Outgoing and extroverted personalities commonly view introverts with negative connotations, as if the disinterest of interaction with others is a sign of disability.
However, ironically, it is “common knowledge” that the quiet person is typically the deep thinker – that the one who stands by and observes has more capacity for learning.
Further, an introvert’s general tendencies have a direct correlation to spirituality for many reasons. One who spends time buried in their own mind, exploring possibilities and searching for answers, tends to have a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them.
MEDITATION
There are various types of meditation which people can use to clear their minds and establish a connection to their spirituality. Some monks meditate in an intentionally uncomfortable position – if the monk is able to completely ignore the physical pain and focus on nothing but their rhythmic breathing, then they would have truly cleared their minds.
Alternately, some people consider meditation to be purely attainment of mindfulness, that to meditate is to unify with your real self and become who you are, devoid of masks.
One other example is to focus on a singular aspect of self or concern, and push conscious thought and subconscious thought on this specific topic for an extended duration of time until a resolution or understanding is reached.
An introvert is likely to spend a great deal of time pondering various topics. Personally, in my experience, as an introvert, I have learned to be constructive with speculation, to stay comfortable, and view things with a clear head and open mind. Also, a topic which I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about is mindfulness of myself, of who I really am, and of what I can do to be more ‘me’.
Additionally, I have a tendency of staying focused on a specific project either until completion or until I reach a point which I can’t surpass until later. The similarities behind between daily practices/mindsets and daily meditation are close enough that I would think it is fair to suggest introverts are unconsciously spending most of their time meditating.
NATURE
To me, there is nothing more empowering and replenishing than walking through the woods on a gorgeous summer day. To see the foliage growing in the underbrush, the paths made by animals living out their lives away from society, the continuity of life, and its interaction with everything around. To be surrounded by the interconnectivity of everything.
From all that I have seen, introverted people have an appreciation for nature, and see beauty in things that others don’t understand.
Well, doesn’t it make sense to be appreciative of all of the components of nature? When someone who spends a lot of time just observing the reality of things is in the forest, or standing atop a cliff watching eagles, or sitting beside a large river full of fish and coral, that it might occur to them the true beauty of our surroundings?
This beauty is most evident through interconnectivity – interconnectivity in nature which is, in every way, a spiritual connection – and an introverted person is more likely to be able to see this than someone who is talking on their phone.
THE UNKNOWN
Inherently, someone who spends a great deal of time just thinking will spend a great deal of time imagining. Our imaginations have always been a great source of entertainment, but, they’re also a great tool. A lot of what has been deemed factual in life had to start out as a notion, a general idea that had yet to be proven. In order for someone to take the time and effort to prove these ideas, it seems to me they had to be fairly confident in their approach and ensuing result.
An introvert tends to look within for answers, to quiet the mind, and use logic when imagining. Often, the thought “that just makes perfect sense!” will cross our minds. This attribute helps greatly for expanding our understanding in a scientific way, as well as helping us to find reasonable, logical conclusions on matters that are thought “unscientific”. And, let’s face it, some forms of spirituality…well…that just makes perfect sense.
So, a lot of people tend to look at introverts with a preconception that they’re weird, and sometimes even go so far as to assume inadequate. However, while introverts aren’t any better than extroverts and don’t have any more overall potential in what they can achieve in life, introverts do have a leg up on a few aspects of life.
To be able to confidently believe you understand, and to be able to see the beauty of our world, and to be able to find logic in spirituality – in part, thanks to constant unconscious meditation – definitely, has its perks.
I’m sorry, I’m going to have to disagree with you. Spirituality means something different to each individual and is uniquely felt and expressed. Some people find it through meditation and contemplation, but others might find it through activity, perhaps private, perhaps with other people. There’s no ‘best way’ formula for personal fulfilment. And you claim to think so deeply and have this enlightened understanding, yet you haven’t questioned the rigid, generalised ‘introvert/extrovert’ sorting system and its stereotypes. People are far more complex than talk-y or think-y… don’t you think? You’re talking about what’s in people’s hearts, but making a very biased and superficial judgement.
Such a know-it-all you are. No wonder you have more down-votes than up-votes. In fact, you should never be voted up.
I disagree with the above comment.Perhaps on a superficial level anything can be said to pertain a level of spirituality. However, the article is speaking of an essential reality which cannot be pondered through daily activities. This cannot be understood through the constant chatter of the mind or through the gratification of others. It is not a matter of self-actualisation but a greater quest for the understanding of our essential reality at a much deeper level, which is mostly attained in solitude, through reflective thought. Also, the author does not seem to claim to be some enlightened being, this is solely your interpretation of it, I think it gives a rather humble impression, the article only seeks to make a fundamental point that simplicity and reflection paves the way for a greater understanding of spirituality . I guess spirituality really does mean something different to others,this was a rather restricted way of observing reality. In my opinion, there is only one way to arrive at a heightened spiritual state, which is sought through true reflection. In my opinion though, there is only one path, and one reality alone. There may be times in our lives where being with others is a wonderful experience which may provide us with glimpses of this essential reality such as the nature of compassion, love and understanding, but it always requires reflection! I do not deny that our experiences aid us in our quest, but in our daily lives we may be in auto-pilot mode, not living in the moment, lost in the ego-state, this article helps to highlight this very crucial point. It is very insightful, of course one important point made in the above comment was that of generalisation, but generalisation is also prevalent in both our comments 🙂