by Zoumana Coulibaly

Created on: November 19, 2008

As an introvert, many difficulties arise on how to get friends and keep them. Friendship is an essential part of our life. Indeed, it is vital for us to be able to talk to someone we trust about our days, difficulties, and worries. It is important to have that someone to share his or her passions with and laugh with. It is a fact that introverts face many challenges in keeping in touch with others. I will not focus on those challenges but on how one can safely and happily live a normal life as an introvert. The following is a non exhaustive list on how to accomplish that goal.

1. An introvert should be able to distinguish what type of introvert person he or she is. We should not forget that shyness can lead one to become introvert. Thus, being an introvert does not necessarily means that one is shy. These are two different conditions requiring two different treatments. I am presenting here a snapshot on how to live a normal life as an introvert not as a shy person.

2. Being an introvert is not a sin and there is nothing wrong with it. Instead, it is a gift that when handled properly can lead to many great intellectual benefits. Indeed, an introvert has the ability to think deeply due to his or her apparent loneliness. He or she has the gift to carefully identify his or her environment and master that latter thanks to that invisible loneliness. Furthermore, an introvert has the possibility to better know and understand himself and what his or her qualities are while most people don't have that ability.

3. In order for others to accept you as an introvert, you should accept yourself the way you are. It is a difference that is comparable to any other cultural or sexual differences. By recognizing and accepting that you are an introvert, you automatically give yourself a chance to cure your state if so you wish or learn how to deal with it if so wish.

4. It is very important and vital for an introvert to not fall into deep depression and ultimately become suicidal. For that not to happen, the introvert must find activities allowing him or her to stay in touch with his or her world. One such activity can be writing. Indeed, with writing, one is able to anonymously express his frustrations and worries thus is not alone anymore.With writing as an activity, comes happiness and hope and enjoyment of one's self qualities thus depression and suicidal thoughts are dissipated. In the same vein, the mind should also not be wondering but involved in meditation and constructive thinking. These are important in the sense that they make one busy put one's mind to work thus the fall into a depressive and suicidal state is drastically reduced.

The first three steps should not be performed in any specific order but they constitute the first part of that therapy toward accepting one's introverted character.

5. Then, one learns how to live with that state spiritually and mentally. The mind must stay stimulated, be active, and be relaxed the same way as long and lasting friendships are active, stimulative, and relaxing by going out together and sharing secrets with each others.

These are the steps that i, as an introvert person, developed independently and follow everyday. It is no fun sometimes to be alone and not be able to express one's emotions the way others do it easily, but today i can say that i am happy the way i am and live a successful life that has not reached its height yet.

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