This was not the post I intended to write today. I was planning to tell you guys about some of the cute and funny things that Nathaniel has been up to lately, like when he saw this photo of a pair of gold Jimmy Choos and excitedly pointed to it and shouted, “Yes!”
That will just have to wait until tomorrow next week.
The topic of today’s post is something I’ve been thinking about ever since I got back from Alt Summit. I kept hearing people describe themselves exactly the way that I would describe my own personality: extroverted introvert. Then I decided to do some digging around our BFF the interwebs to see what I could come up with about this phenomenon.
Creative people tend to be both introverted and extroverted.
According to research by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, while most people are either introverted or extroverted, creative people tend to exhibit both of these traits. There are some people who still confuse being introverted with being quiet and shy, which is annoying. “Melanie, you can’t be introverted! You talk all the time!” Um, yeah…until I don’t. Now go away.
Linda Silverman, Director of the Gifted Development Center, does a good job of explaining what it means to be an introvert in the article I referenced above. “Introverts are wired differently from extroverts and they have different needs. Extroverts get their energy from interaction with people and the external world. Introverts get their energy from within themselves; too much interaction drains their energy and they need to retreat from the world to recharge their batteries.”
It makes sense logistically. There’s no time to create something if you’re constantly dancing on tables while wearing a lampshade on your head.
People who are high in openness and high in neuroticism are more likely to be bloggers. Especially women.
What do you guys think about this? Again, I turn to my own observations and think about the different bloggers I’ve met, as well as some of my own personality traits, and I do see anxiety as one of the most widespread common denominators in the blogging world. Or at least my blogging world. This article in a Vancouver Sun blog references the research study that found the relationship between neuroticism and blogging. If you’re interested in reading the paper on the actual study (I’m not), here’s a PDF download.
A little anxiety can be motivating in getting things done, but too much can be crippling. There’s a fine line between productivity and burnout, and bloggers probably skip back and forth across it more than others.
I would also think that most serious bloggers are at least above average in organizational skills, just because you have to be if you want to turn blogging into a profession. That could have roots in anxiety as well. I can’t remember when or why I first started making a million notes or folders or electronic reminders. I think some of our need to be super prepared is because we “have” to be, because what if this happens, or this, or this, etc.
Bloggers doubt themselves.
This one ties into the point above, but I felt it deserved it’s own topic, especially these days.
Are you familiar with the Things I’m Afraid To Tell You movement in blogging? It’s pretty cool, because some of the lifestyle and design bloggers who typically keep their personal lives out of their posts decided to spill their thoughts and fears.
There have been recent articles that have ridiculed and internet yelled at lifestyle and design bloggers for perpetuating the myth of beautifully-styled “perfect” lives, but I really do think that the current trend of mixing the pretty with the authentic is the way that things seem to be headed. I don’t know about you, but I love reading personal stories from bloggers, and if they happen to part of a blog that also promotes good design, interesting art, and fantastic adventures, that’s even better.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on these things and keep this conversation going. Feel free to comment here, or take it over to my Facebook page and we can chat there. xoxo