Blog - INFP

Being yourself should be easy, shouldn’t it? You just let go and be whatever you imagine yourself to be with no masks or labels.

That’s not how the world works, though. Societal expectations, parental pressure, even a boss with an explosive temper — these and other external forces can influence our actions and make us act in an inauthentic way, presenting variations of ourselves in order to fit in.

Mindfulness is the state of focusing your attention on the present moment in a purposeful and objective way. It is a conscious direction to "be in the moment;" to deliberately notice the sensations around you without forming any kind of judgment about those sensations. Proponents claim that it can shift your thoughts away from your usual preoccupations towards a calmer perspective on life.

Inspired by a similar post about Extraverts, I'm here to talk about the mistakes that Introverts—myself very much included—may be making without realizing it. Some of them are more obvious than others, but these are some that I've only recently caught myself doing.

While all educators are susceptible to burnout, the introverted teacher is fighting a unique battle. They are willingly immersing themselves in an environment designed to exhaust themselves.

As an introverted teacher, I quickly realized I was in over my head. It wasn’t the teaching itself that really got to me; it was the constant external stimulation that accompanies the world of education. Between busy hallways, loud noises, and bright lights I would, inevitably, be left utterly exhausted by mid-week.