Image that asks "Can an introvert become an extrovert and vice versa?"

Can an Introvert Become an Extrovert (and vice versa)?

Short answer: No!

I have heard a few people say things like, “I used to be an introvert, but not anymore.”

Introversion and extroversion have to do with the degree of stimulation you can take and how you are energised.

This tends to be biologically hard-wired in us, so we are all born somewhere on the introversion-extroversion axis and this is unlikely to change as we grow-up.

What can change is how we are able to live with our introversion or extroversion. So for instance, an introvert (who would typically be easily drained from spending time with many people) could learn how to spend more time around people by managing their energy.

An introvert could figure out what type of people they might draw energy from without needing periods of complete solitude.

Similarly, some extroverts are able to gain an appreciation for periods of quiet and solitude for reflection or focused work.

Sometimes, when people feel are no longer an introvert, they are mixing-up introversion with shyness. So perhaps they used to be shy, but no longer are.

How do you feel you’ve been able to work around your natural tendencies and biology? Or have you been able to?