Laurie Helgoe, Ph.D.

We know that the stars are brightest when the artificial light is extinguished. And we know that, like the stars, some truths only emerge after the lights go out. We revel in a more muted light.

Desire is the seed of intrinsic motivation, the natural impulse to create, to expand, to grow.

Introverts have been found to experience a higher level of mental arousal on an ongoing basis. We seek to reduce the added stimulation offered by society. By contrast, extroverts, who experience a lower level of arousal, look to society for excitement.

The more a person is able to tolerate paradox in search of truth, the less energy will be spent defending a rigid position.

Allow yourself to shift from feeling you have to race time to feeling you have time, all the time in the world. And you will.

Don’t get me wrong—we like people. We just like them one or two at a time, with space in between.

Whatever retreats you design for yourself, do them regularly. Protect them. Put them on your calendar and tell others you will not be available during these times. Turn off your cell phone. And melt.

Retreating is a necessary form of sustenance for introverts, just as social gatherings are for the extrovert.

If we wanted to sort introverts from extroverts without the help of the MBTI®, we could just send everybody to a party and note what time each person leaves.

Introverts have a hard time keeping up, and this may be our salvation—and society’s salvation. Introverts shut down when there’s too much stimulation. We don’t have much choice. A red light flashes, “OVERLOAD,” and we know it’s time to pull back and think.