My Favorite Things Nicoles Picks

My Favorite Things Nicoles Picks As a pretty hard-core extrovert, Im happy to offer the creative introverts perspective on the November edition of My Favorite Things. Take it away, Nicole! mug by Farizula Designs Being the Best Creative Innie You Can Be! What do you mean innie?? You talking about my belly button?? No, not your belly button silly! In the book, The Introvert Advantage, Marti Olsen Laney, uses the creative term innie to define introverts. So what’s an innie you ask and how do you know if you are one? Marti uses the following key descriptions to define innies: innies prefer to relax alone or with a few close friends they need rest after outside activities, even ones you enjoy appear calm, self contained, and like to observe tend to think before you speak don’t like feeling rushed If any of this sounds familiar, and describes who you are, then you are a certifiable innie just like me! I always thought that I was just a shy person, simply because that’s what people would tell me. But deep down I didn’t believe that was who I was. In fact I really like to talk, just not all the time and not to everyone. Just the same, I like being in the crowd just not all the time. So, I stumbled upon this book and was immediately entranced by it as soon as I began to turn the pages. It was like everything I read in the book described me to the T! I didn’t even have to take the innie quiz that she provided in the book to know that I was legit introvert. Unfortunately, our society makes us believe there’s something wrong with us. Especially since we only make up about 1/3 of the population. But fear not, there’s not a thing wrong! We’re just as beautiful and unique as the rest. One of the biggest misconceptions about introverts is that we are shy. But this couldn’t be any further from the truth. Shyness is social anxiety, an extreme self consciousness when one is around people. I don’t know about you, but that ain’t me! On the other hand Introversion is a healthy capacity that enables us to tune into our inner world. Now, that’s something I can get with! In fact many creatives tend to be introverts because of that simple fact. We are able to see the world, internalize it and make it into something beautiful. Introversion is a creative quality that is found in many independent thinkers and artists like Bill Gates, Audrey Hepburn and even Steve Martin.   These are all incredible people that have enriched our world. Laney even goes on to say, that “many introverts come into the limelight because of their quest for work that has meaning to them, an unusual talent, or extraordinary circumstances.” And I know many of you reading this are living out meaningful creative careers or are at least well on your way. So how can creatives use their introversion for good? Laney provides some good insight on how to do just that. For starters we have to accept our introversion and know that it is not a curse.. Yes, we may not be assertive all the time, but we know when to be. Use your inner voice to guide you and assert yourself when needed. She also provides the following traits that are beneficial to creative outputs: Introverts can focus deeply on a subject, which makes them excellent researchers Introverts can be alone for long periods of timeâ€"this allows us to produce those beautifully written e-books, or that fine piece of jewelry Introverts store information in long-term memory. They have the potential to use that information again and again Introverts prefer listening over talking. Just by sitting still, they become inspired and are able to produce unique and great quality work Now if you’re getting to the end of this post and are convinced more than ever that you are introvert and haven’t picked up this book, then I strongly suggest you do! Nicole  Durant is a jewelry designer, youth advocate, and a recent “woman of the world”. She combines her passion for creating and empowering others by sharing her creative experiences, good and bad and why she quit her day job at  tynisenicole.com.   ****************** Lil reminder: 2 days left (today tomorrow!) to answer my survey get a chance at a $100 Etsy gift card!