An article in Scientific American yesterday captivated me - The Power of Introverts:  A Manifesto for Quiet Brilliance.  There was so much about the article that I liked.  It discussed the research of Susan Cain, author of  Quiet: The Power of Introverts, and talked about how quiet leaders in many fields were actually more effective than groupthink, and extroverted leadership models.

I’m also not surprised to see this type of article emerging at this time.  I feel that we are in a time of energetic readjustment on the planet, and the time is coming when introverted ways will become as honored as extraversion. 

Today I wanted to talk about how this might apply to you and me as writers.

Not all writers are introverts, nor should they be.  However, if you’re an introvert you know there is a very strong belief set, particularly in America, which says that social and gregarious people are preferable to quiet and thoughtful.  As Cain says, from the time we are young, introverts are taught that we are not good enough as we are, and that something in our personality is flawed and needs to change.  Many, naturally quiet people have adjusted our lives around the culture, and developed an extroverted persona to fit in.

Yet, I would argue that the world needs introverts to embrace their nature more fully now.  We need more thoughtful, quietly strong people to feel good about themselves and balance out the over-heated society that we live in.  The world literally is overheating because of excess yang energy caused from industry and human practices that destroy the environment. 

How can you as a writer and/or artist honor the yin in yourself and help strengthen the calm, grounded energy that the world needs now?  If you are an introvert, how do your honor your way of being in the world?

These are questions that I’ve been asking myself for the last year, especially with the growing influence of social media affecting all types of artists and creative types.  I’ve had my own approach to social media, which probably wouldn’t be seen as effective by many people, but has been helping me to contribute what I feel I’m on this planet to contribute.  I’ll share more about that tomorrow.

In the meantime, I’d be curious to know: 

Have you found a way to use social media such as Twitter, Blogging, Facebook, and others in a way that allows you to honor both the yin and yang energies in yourself?