I recently gave a talk to a group of Actors as part of a two day workshop held by the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance. Through discussion with the association and from my own experience it seemed important that the focus be on the personal challenges faced by actors in the industry.
So often, in pursuit of success our thoughts jump to tasks such as getting the right resume, the proper training, the best connections and so on. What we often fail to do is first look within to discover our internal road blocks to success before addressing all things external.
As hard as it may be for some to accept or admit, we truly are our only limitation. We are only limited by our own thoughts and beliefs.
The workshop focused on Introversion and Extroversion, the inaccurate assumption that actors are extroverts and the importance of understanding where you fall on this spectrum of personality traits. Gaining an understanding of this aspect of your internal being can lead to a new found awareness of why you are the way you are and set you on a path to working with rather than against yourself.
This subject is of benefit to everyone and not just actors. For this reason, in today’s blog I am sharing some of the main points of the talk.
So firstly, take the Quiz below to see whether you are more introverted or extroverted. Please note that this is not a psychological evaluation.
Answer Yes or No to each.
1) I prefer one-on-one conversations to group activities _____
2) I often prefer to express myself in writing _____
3) I enjoy solitude
4) I seem to care less than my peers about wealth, fame and status.___
5) I dislike small talk, but I enjoy talking in depth about topics that matter to me._____
6) People tell me that I’m a good listener._____
7) I’m not a big risk taker._____
8) I enjoy work that allows me to “dive in” with few interruptions.____
9) I like to celebrate birthdays on a small scale, with only one or two close friends or family members._____
10) People describe me as “soft spoken” or “mellow”._____
11) I prefer not to show or discuss my work with others until it’s finished.
12) I dislike conflict. _____
13) I do my best work on my own._____
14) I tend to think before I speak._____
15) I feel drained after being out and about, even if I’ve enjoyed myself.____
16) I often let calls go through to voicemail._____
17) If I had to choose, I’d prefer a weekend with absolutely nothing to do to one with too many things scheduled._____
18) I don’t enjoy multitasking._____
19) I can concentrate easily._____
20) In classroom situations, I prefer lectures to seminars._____
The more Yes answers the more you fall towards the introverted end of the spectrum.
Remember however that…
“There is no such thing as a pure extrovert or a pure introvert. Such a man would be in a lunatic asylum”-Carl Jung
Traits of Introversion
- Preference for quiet/minimally stimulating environments
- Cautious approach to risk
- Listen more than they talk, dislike small talk
- Limited amount of social energy
- Prefers to work alone
- Needs to recharge after social interactions
- Orrganized and likes to prepare
Traits of Extroversion
- preference for social/ externally stimulating environment
- More likely to enjoy taking risks
- Talks more than listens/ enjoys the attention of others
- derives energy from social settings
- Prefers to work in groups
- Does not enjoy being alone
- Disorganized and spontaneous
There are many schools of thought on what causes one to be more on one end of the scale than the other.
One well researched theory is as follows. There is an area in the brain known as the Lymbic brain or the Reptillian brain. This is because it is a very old part of our brains and is shared with many other mammals. A part of this system is the Amygdala. It is responsible for triggering our emotional responses. Through how it reacts and the situation at hand, it triggers the flight, fight or freeze response, hormones such as the stress hormone Cortisol, Adrenaline, the “happy” hormones such as Dopamine and also sends messages to the sympathetic nervous system. You have probably all experienced the intense physical experience that can happen when someone startles you, you have a near miss in a car, someone gets aggressive with you, you are nervous about a first date etc etc. The Amygdala plays a very big role in the almost instant physical and emotional responses you have to these situations.
So based on one theory, it seems that in Introverted people their Amygdala is more sensitive to stimuli causing what may be described as an overwhelm in the amygdala. The Introvert is over stimulated, becomes more easily exhausted and needs to retreat to a quiet space and recover.
The Extrovert on the other hand has what we could call a less sensitive Amygdala. Their Amygdala is less reactive and thus is less likely to react as strongly to a stressful situation and also less positively to a pleasant situation. The result is the Extrovert needs more stimulation. Both are seeking a balance- a happy Amygdala! So the extrovert wants to “feel” more and so seeks out opportunities such as regular if not constant social engagement.
When I first read about this, I felt hugely validated for all the behaviours of mine that I’d once rejected and judged myself for. I now had compassion for why it is that I need to retreat after a lot of social engagement. My hope is that you too may gain a new understanding of yourself and take one more step towards allowing yourself to be rather than pushing against who you are.
Tips for the Introverted
- Prioritize Social events, make a limit per week
- Plan events in advance, preparation is key
- For networking/career focussed events, choose a select few people to approach
- Remember extroverts prefer to be the talkers, ask a question and sit back
- Other introverts likely feel the same as you in social settings, if nothing else, talk about that. people appreciate vulnerability
- Be honest with friends and family. Let them know when you need to recharge.
- If you don’t like answering the phone. Set a time each day when you will return all the calls you missed.
- Set rewards for when you do something outside your comfort zone.
- Self talk is proven to activate the prefrontal cortex and calm the amygdala.
- Explore reasons for not taking certain risks. If the reason is fear then continue to explore
- In social settings, channel your nervous energy where people can’t see, wiggle your toes for example
Tips for the Extroverted
- Find your “sweet spot” for working alone. Play music, go to a coffee shop.
- Reward time alone with social interaction. Plan to call/see a friend when you have done what needs doing.
- For networking/career research who you need to talk to.
- Remember introverts dislike small talk, if you want a particular introverted person to notice you, find out what they are passionate about.
- If easily distracted when trying to work, turn off your phone, ask your roommate to not interrupt for a certain length of time.
- Set rewards for when you do something outside your comfort zone.
- Get a second opinion from an introvert before taking risks or making quick decisions. Extroverts and introverts can really balance each other.
- Multi task to stay focussed
- Ask for help getting organized
For a great read about Introversion and Extroversion, I highly recommend the book “Quiet” by Susan Cain and her Ted Talk. Please see the Resources page for a link to her Ted Talk video. The power of Introverts
You are Limitless