3 tips for making your dreams a reality as an introvert

I’ve always been more of an introvert. I had my moments where I could be outgoing, but that was not the standard. I was only comfortable being around people who made me feel safe. And that didn’t happen so often. Occasionally you meet those people who just make you feel like home, an instant feeling of familiarity. It was only then that I understood why I was often so shy and introverted. I didn’t feel safe. I didn’t feel safe to be myself; I felt scared of judgment.

So I first had to feel safe within myself. I had to do a lot of inner work. That’s the first tip I can share with you if you suffer from shyness or social anxiety. Become safe within yourself first. Explore yourself first.

People’s judgments are often projections. Who says there’s something wrong with introverts? One of the deepest people I’ve come across so far was an introvert. However, in this society, those who are the loudest are often the most heard and seen. But the loudest ones aren’t always the ones with the greatest depths or personalities. It’s irrespective.

There’s nothing wrong with being introverted. I’ve always thought I had to change. I thought I had to be different. I thought I had to become “louder.”

Until years later, I realize I was constantly trying to fit in. I'm not here to win others' approval. It was the moment I had to learn to be myself. This meant accepting that I prefer to maintain my privacy and that I do not always open up to people quickly.

However, I’m super sensitive; I help people if they need me. I learned to value the strength in being introverted. You perceive the world differently. Being deeper and feeling more is, quite frankly, a strength in and of itself.

I accepted that I'm not for everyone. It made such a big difference; if you stop trying to fit in or stop trying to be different, you can finally breathe. You realize there’s nothing wrong with you. Society has long made me believe there’s something wrong with me. But it was just a belief.

I have come to understand that I do not need to associate with the most boisterous individuals in the class or at social gatherings unless a mutual connection exists between us. Sometimes a mix of introverts and extroverts makes outstanding connections and awesome teams. We often remind the extroverts to calm down, and the extroverts remind us to be more outgoing and share our opinions.

But if someone finds me too quiet, too sensitive, too introverted, or too whatever, I no longer care the same way I did years back. I remind myself that I don't need to fit in, and it's okay if I'm not here for everyone.

You know what? That’s a form of liberation. Realizing that you don't have to constantly work on yourself or strive to be different is a liberating realization. But just accept that you’re different. You can still improve and move through your fears, but at least you now feel less driven to be different or strive to be someone you're not.

And then something magical happened in my life when I more and more accepted who I was. New dreams appeared. New opportunities. For example, I love writing. On some days I almost prefer writing to speaking, something only introverted writers may fully understand. I’m simply tired of listening to people’s drama, bullshit, and stress. The loud noise gets to me. On some days it’s all too much for me.

And so I started living my passion and dream by writing books, among other things.

What’s the lesson?

1) You don’t have to change. Occasionally you just need to accept who you are. That doesn’t mean you can’t improve, though.

2) You can live your dreams as an introvert. There will be opportunities.

Introverts often have a powerful connection to their intuition. They often have the ability to tune in to their inner voice. They sense if something is off. It’s often overshadowed by fear, self-doubt, etc.

If you are feeling curious and wish to pursue your dreams or follow the whisper of your soul, and if you need further inspiration or guidance on how to get started, I am happy to share more insights about my journey from the corporate world to writing books and living my passion, which has brought me greater joy, happiness, and a sense of purpose despite my introverted nature. I summarized those tips and journal prompts in my masterclass.

Yes, I had to bring myself out of the comfort zone more than once. But still, I could be myself. And so far I discovered new aspects about myself. The safer I feel within myself, the more I can open up as I care less and less what people think of me. That’s the beauty of inner work. You explore new facets and characteristics about yourself you didn’t know you had.

That’s a testament to the inner growth when we start accepting ourselves and dare to meet ourselves at a deeper level and greater depths.