as a psychologist working at a college Counseling Center one day I decided to
Counseling Center one day I decided to
Counseling Center one day I decided to start a new group It was as if that
start a new group It was as if that
start a new group It was as if that voice from the movie Field of Dreams was
voice from the movie Field of Dreams was
voice from the movie Field of Dreams was whispering if you build it and so I
whispering if you build it and so I
whispering if you build it and so I plastered these posters all across the
plastered these posters all across the
plastered these posters all across the campus I had borrowed it from a meme and
campus I had borrowed it from a meme and
campus I had borrowed it from a meme and if there’s any way to get Millennials to
if there’s any way to get Millennials to
if there’s any way to get Millennials to a group it’s through an internet meme
a group it’s through an internet meme
a group it’s through an internet meme here’s what I put up now I’m glad that
here’s what I put up now I’m glad that
here’s what I put up now I’m glad that you’re laughing with me because a lot of
you’re laughing with me because a lot of
you’re laughing with me because a lot of people were laughing at me including my
people were laughing at me including my
people were laughing at me including my colleagues and my co-workers because
colleagues and my co-workers because
colleagues and my co-workers because they said to me Mike
they said to me Mike
they said to me Mike who’s gonna even show up to this group
who’s gonna even show up to this group
who’s gonna even show up to this group and even if they do are they even going
and even if they do are they even going
and even if they do are they even going to talk right so it turns out though
to talk right so it turns out though
to talk right so it turns out though that this group was one of the most
that this group was one of the most
that this group was one of the most popular the most diverse and the most
popular the most diverse and the most
popular the most diverse and the most connected group I had ever run on a
connected group I had ever run on a
connected group I had ever run on a college campus so why was that I was
college campus so why was that I was
college campus so why was that I was sort of surprised myself and I think you
sort of surprised myself and I think you
sort of surprised myself and I think you know one of the things the reason that
know one of the things the reason that
know one of the things the reason that people were surprised about this group
people were surprised about this group
people were surprised about this group is because we have a misconception in
is because we have a misconception in
is because we have a misconception in our culture about introverts we tend to
our culture about introverts we tend to
our culture about introverts we tend to think of them as loners as painfully shy
think of them as loners as painfully shy
think of them as loners as painfully shy or as people who can’t really have a
or as people who can’t really have a
or as people who can’t really have a good time with others right and and this
good time with others right and and this
good time with others right and and this is the furthest thing from the truth in
is the furthest thing from the truth in
is the furthest thing from the truth in fact when we look at the definition of
fact when we look at the definition of
fact when we look at the definition of introversion it really is about people
introversion it really is about people
introversion it really is about people who take in a lot from their environment
who take in a lot from their environment
who take in a lot from their environment they are sensitive and perceptive and
they are sensitive and perceptive and
they are sensitive and perceptive and they completely are tuned to what’s
they completely are tuned to what’s
they completely are tuned to what’s happening outside of them and they’re
happening outside of them and they’re
happening outside of them and they’re spending a lot of time processing and
spending a lot of time processing and
spending a lot of time processing and absorbing it Stephen Hawking has a
absorbing it Stephen Hawking has a
absorbing it Stephen Hawking has a saying he says quiet people have the
saying he says quiet people have the
saying he says quiet people have the loudest minds right so the other thing
loudest minds right so the other thing
loudest minds right so the other thing about introverts is while they are
about introverts is while they are
about introverts is while they are taking all this stuff in every once in a
taking all this stuff in every once in a
taking all this stuff in every once in a while they need to replenish and
while they need to replenish and
while they need to replenish and recharge and they do that best by going
recharge and they do that best by going
recharge and they do that best by going into the world of their imagination and
into the world of their imagination and
into the world of their imagination and ideas in other words going inside from
ideas in other words going inside from
ideas in other words going inside from the inside out well before I had a word
the inside out well before I had a word
the inside out well before I had a word for this growing up this sensibility was
for this growing up this sensibility was
for this growing up this sensibility was most understood by my best friend Emily
most understood by my best friend Emily
most understood by my best friend Emily wise beyond her years
wise beyond her years
wise beyond her years Emily was quiet and sensitive like
Emily was quiet and sensitive like
Emily was quiet and sensitive like myself and she loved to write about all
myself and she loved to write about all
myself and she loved to write about all of the beauty and wonder of the world
of the beauty and wonder of the world
of the beauty and wonder of the world alongside its heartbreak and its pain
alongside its heartbreak and its pain
alongside its heartbreak and its pain cool and fiery she said to me once the
cool and fiery she said to me once the
cool and fiery she said to me once the best writing can take off the top of
best writing can take off the top of
best writing can take off the top of your head so I really shouldn’t have
your head so I really shouldn’t have
your head so I really shouldn’t have been surprised when one day she looked
been surprised when one day she looked
been surprised when one day she looked me dead in the eye and read from her
me dead in the eye and read from her
me dead in the eye and read from her notebook and said I am nobody who are
notebook and said I am nobody who are
notebook and said I am nobody who are you are you nobody too dumbfounded I
you are you nobody too dumbfounded I
you are you nobody too dumbfounded I didn’t understand what she quite meant I
didn’t understand what she quite meant I
didn’t understand what she quite meant I was sort of discombobulated and she
was sort of discombobulated and she
was sort of discombobulated and she could see it and so slyly she leaned in
could see it and so slyly she leaned in
could see it and so slyly she leaned in with a mischievous grin and she said
with a mischievous grin and she said
with a mischievous grin and she said then there’s a pair of us instantly I
then there’s a pair of us instantly I
then there’s a pair of us instantly I felt less alone
felt less alone
felt less alone because I could see that now we were
because I could see that now we were
because I could see that now we were part of the secret Club the secret Club
part of the secret Club the secret Club
part of the secret Club the secret Club of quiet sensitive misfits together
of quiet sensitive misfits together
of quiet sensitive misfits together we’ve kept in touch throughout the years
we’ve kept in touch throughout the years
we’ve kept in touch throughout the years for a long long time Emily and I in fact
for a long long time Emily and I in fact
for a long long time Emily and I in fact we took a selfie last year like it
we took a selfie last year like it
we took a selfie last year like it introduced you to her
so for those of you who don’t know my
so for those of you who don’t know my best friend she is in fact 19th century
best friend she is in fact 19th century
best friend she is in fact 19th century poet Emily Dickinson
poet Emily Dickinson
poet Emily Dickinson [Applause]
fast forward a number of years I’m a PhD
fast forward a number of years I’m a PhD psychologist and as I go through my work
psychologist and as I go through my work
psychologist and as I go through my work life I notice more and more
life I notice more and more
life I notice more and more psychologists being passed over for
psychologists being passed over for
psychologists being passed over for positions or promotions because they too
positions or promotions because they too
positions or promotions because they too were introverts they too were nobodies
were introverts they too were nobodies
were introverts they too were nobodies in fact they were the Omegas rather than
in fact they were the Omegas rather than
in fact they were the Omegas rather than the alphas of our world and this really
the alphas of our world and this really
the alphas of our world and this really pained me really saddened me and so what
pained me really saddened me and so what
pained me really saddened me and so what did I do well as a good introvert I read
did I do well as a good introvert I read
did I do well as a good introvert I read a book and the book that I found and
a book and the book that I found and
a book and the book that I found and discovered was won by a woman a woman
discovered was won by a woman a woman
discovered was won by a woman a woman named Susan Cain this book was called
named Susan Cain this book was called
named Susan Cain this book was called quiet and what Susan Cain did was she
quiet and what Susan Cain did was she
quiet and what Susan Cain did was she talked about the power of introverts and
talked about the power of introverts and
talked about the power of introverts and she reclaimed what it meant to be an
she reclaimed what it meant to be an
she reclaimed what it meant to be an interest and celebrated it in a way that
interest and celebrated it in a way that
interest and celebrated it in a way that was like a revelation to me sort of like
was like a revelation to me sort of like
was like a revelation to me sort of like coming home again and the cool thing
coming home again and the cool thing
coming home again and the cool thing about what Susan Cain did is she also
about what Susan Cain did is she also
about what Susan Cain did is she also answered Emily’s question in a much
answered Emily’s question in a much
answered Emily’s question in a much different way it was as she was saying I
different way it was as she was saying I
different way it was as she was saying I thought I was a nobody but actually I’m
thought I was a nobody but actually I’m
thought I was a nobody but actually I’m a somebody to Susan’s work has done
a somebody to Susan’s work has done
a somebody to Susan’s work has done wonders for helping to nurture and
wonders for helping to nurture and
wonders for helping to nurture and support our future Abraham Lincoln’s our
support our future Abraham Lincoln’s our
support our future Abraham Lincoln’s our Meryl Streep’s our Eleanor Roosevelt’s
Meryl Streep’s our Eleanor Roosevelt’s
Meryl Streep’s our Eleanor Roosevelt’s our Steve Wozniak’s our Michael Jordan’s
our Steve Wozniak’s our Michael Jordan’s
our Steve Wozniak’s our Michael Jordan’s our Stephen Colbert’s our Barack Obama’s
our Stephen Colbert’s our Barack Obama’s
our Stephen Colbert’s our Barack Obama’s all these different lights and talents
all these different lights and talents
all these different lights and talents who are introverted themself inspired by
who are introverted themself inspired by
who are introverted themself inspired by her work as a psychologist I brought it
her work as a psychologist I brought it
her work as a psychologist I brought it into my work and what I found was that
into my work and what I found was that
into my work and what I found was that if we could help introverts take their
if we could help introverts take their
if we could help introverts take their place not only could we help so many
place not only could we help so many
place not only could we help so many people but we also could help everybody
people but we also could help everybody
people but we also could help everybody else take their place in fact we had the
else take their place in fact we had the
else take their place in fact we had the one of the keys to solving our mental
one of the keys to solving our mental
one of the keys to solving our mental health crisis now what is this crisis
health crisis now what is this crisis
health crisis now what is this crisis you might ask well I don’t know if any
you might ask well I don’t know if any
you might ask well I don’t know if any of you familiar with college where I
of you familiar with college where I
of you familiar with college where I work but college Counseling Center these
work but college Counseling Center these
work but college Counseling Center these days are inundated and flooded with
days are inundated and flooded with
days are inundated and flooded with coming into their counseling centers
basically we know the center for Bleach
basically we know the center for Bleach collegiate mental health did a study
collegiate mental health did a study
collegiate mental health did a study recently and over a six-year period they
recently and over a six-year period they
recently and over a six-year period they found that the number of students at
found that the number of students at
found that the number of students at college counseling centers grew at a
college counseling centers grew at a
college counseling centers grew at a rate five times the rate of
rate five times the rate of
rate five times the rate of institutional enrollment as you could
institutional enrollment as you could
institutional enrollment as you could see the number of attended appointments
see the number of attended appointments
see the number of attended appointments grow at more than seven times the rate
grow at more than seven times the rate
grow at more than seven times the rate it’s all alarming and so we have a
it’s all alarming and so we have a
it’s all alarming and so we have a number of students coming in we have a
number of students coming in we have a
number of students coming in we have a system that’s overwhelmed by students
system that’s overwhelmed by students
system that’s overwhelmed by students who are overwhelmed and what are these
who are overwhelmed and what are these
who are overwhelmed and what are these students coming in with well the
students coming in with well the
students coming in with well the majority of students coming in for
majority of students coming in for
majority of students coming in for psychological counseling are coming in
psychological counseling are coming in
psychological counseling are coming in for anxiety and depression right now
for anxiety and depression right now
for anxiety and depression right now imagine for a moment if we could help 10
imagine for a moment if we could help 10
imagine for a moment if we could help 10 20 or even 30 percent of these students
20 or even 30 percent of these students
20 or even 30 percent of these students imagine now for a moment if we can do
imagine now for a moment if we can do
imagine now for a moment if we can do that without putting any more dollars
that without putting any more dollars
that without putting any more dollars without adding any more staff without
without adding any more staff without
without adding any more staff without medication with just a simple shift in
medication with just a simple shift in
medication with just a simple shift in our mindset and approach well it turns
our mindset and approach well it turns
our mindset and approach well it turns out that about a third to a half of the
out that about a third to a half of the
out that about a third to a half of the population in America are introverts
population in America are introverts
population in America are introverts that’s about 33 to 50 percent many of
that’s about 33 to 50 percent many of
that’s about 33 to 50 percent many of you are here tonight
you are here tonight
you are here tonight great and many you know them they’re
great and many you know them they’re
great and many you know them they’re your significant others your children
your significant others your children
your significant others your children your brothers your co-workers your
your brothers your co-workers your
your brothers your co-workers your colleagues
colleagues
colleagues so imagine what we could do if we can
so imagine what we could do if we can
so imagine what we could do if we can help those 33 to 50 percent and even
help those 33 to 50 percent and even
help those 33 to 50 percent and even more but the question I had was why
more but the question I had was why
more but the question I had was why hadn’t we do it been doing it already
hadn’t we do it been doing it already
hadn’t we do it been doing it already what was sort of like the purloined
what was sort of like the purloined
what was sort of like the purloined letter which was right in front of us
letter which was right in front of us
letter which was right in front of us because it turns out when you look at
because it turns out when you look at
because it turns out when you look at anxiety and depression
anxiety and depression
anxiety and depression we tend to look at those students with
we tend to look at those students with
we tend to look at those students with anxiety and depression as if they’re all
anxiety and depression as if they’re all
anxiety and depression as if they’re all the same we have this one-size-fits-all
the same we have this one-size-fits-all
the same we have this one-size-fits-all mentality in our culture that everybody
mentality in our culture that everybody
mentality in our culture that everybody is extroverted just like everybody seems
is extroverted just like everybody seems
is extroverted just like everybody seems to be right-handed once upon a time
to be right-handed once upon a time
to be right-handed once upon a time right
right
right and then even psychologists those of us
and then even psychologists those of us
and then even psychologists those of us who are trained tend to focus more on
who are trained tend to focus more on
who are trained tend to focus more on what can be changed rather than what’s
what can be changed rather than what’s
what can be changed rather than what’s relatively fixed in other words we focus
relatively fixed in other words we focus
relatively fixed in other words we focus more on
more on
more on nurture rather than nature but the most
nurture rather than nature but the most
nurture rather than nature but the most confusing part when we look at those
confusing part when we look at those
confusing part when we look at those many students who have anxiety and
many students who have anxiety and
many students who have anxiety and depression is that for introverts the
depression is that for introverts the
depression is that for introverts the anxiety and depression is the effect and
anxiety and depression is the effect and
anxiety and depression is the effect and not the cause in other words the true
not the cause in other words the true
not the cause in other words the true source of their distress and difficulty
source of their distress and difficulty
source of their distress and difficulty is not anxiety or depression and if we
is not anxiety or depression and if we
is not anxiety or depression and if we use the standard treatments it’s really
use the standard treatments it’s really
use the standard treatments it’s really not going to help them very much
not going to help them very much
not going to help them very much so what can we do what did I do the
so what can we do what did I do the
so what can we do what did I do the first thing that we need to do all of us
first thing that we need to do all of us
first thing that we need to do all of us is to help introverts learn who they are
is to help introverts learn who they are
is to help introverts learn who they are what their nature is and to help them to
what their nature is and to help them to
what their nature is and to help them to stop shaming and blaming themselves for
stop shaming and blaming themselves for
stop shaming and blaming themselves for who they are
who they are
who they are so let me give you an example we all
so let me give you an example we all
so let me give you an example we all have one of these cell phone right so
have one of these cell phone right so
have one of these cell phone right so you know as well as I do you if we have
you know as well as I do you if we have
you know as well as I do you if we have a number of apps or programs running our
a number of apps or programs running our
a number of apps or programs running our battery drains a whole lot faster right
battery drains a whole lot faster right
battery drains a whole lot faster right and so if my battery is that 10% or even
and so if my battery is that 10% or even
and so if my battery is that 10% or even 5%
5%
5% I don’t deem the thing worthless and
I don’t deem the thing worthless and
I don’t deem the thing worthless and throw it away I just charge it up well
throw it away I just charge it up well
throw it away I just charge it up well turns out that introverts tend to
turns out that introverts tend to
turns out that introverts tend to denigrate themselves like this because
denigrate themselves like this because
denigrate themselves like this because you know they’re also remember
you know they’re also remember
you know they’re also remember processing so much in their minds
processing so much in their minds
processing so much in their minds they’re so much inside taking in all
they’re so much inside taking in all
they’re so much inside taking in all this information and so when they drain
this information and so when they drain
this information and so when they drain very quickly they start to judge
very quickly they start to judge
very quickly they start to judge themselves and they start to think well
themselves and they start to think well
themselves and they start to think well I’m worthless another analogy might help
I’m worthless another analogy might help
I’m worthless another analogy might help us here to think about it like this it’s
us here to think about it like this it’s
us here to think about it like this it’s a majority of cars in our country are
a majority of cars in our country are
a majority of cars in our country are gas powered so if you happen to have a
gas powered so if you happen to have a
gas powered so if you happen to have a car and you’re running out of fuel all
car and you’re running out of fuel all
car and you’re running out of fuel all you need to do is just go down the road
you need to do is just go down the road
you need to do is just go down the road probably a mile or two there’ll be
probably a mile or two there’ll be
probably a mile or two there’ll be another gas station but what happens if
another gas station but what happens if
another gas station but what happens if you’re an electric car if you’re an
you’re an electric car if you’re an
you’re an electric car if you’re an electric car it might take you a long
electric car it might take you a long
electric car it might take you a long time before you can find a charging
time before you can find a charging
time before you can find a charging station or you might have to choose to
station or you might have to choose to
station or you might have to choose to go home to do it yourself
go home to do it yourself
go home to do it yourself well introverts are a lot like those
well introverts are a lot like those
well introverts are a lot like those electric cars the culture sometimes
electric cars the culture sometimes
electric cars the culture sometimes hasn’t caught up with making sure
hasn’t caught up with making sure
hasn’t caught up with making sure there’s enough spaces and places to help
there’s enough spaces and places to help
there’s enough spaces and places to help them to really replenish does that make
them to really replenish does that make
them to really replenish does that make sense
sense
sense so but the cool thing is what if I told
so but the cool thing is what if I told
so but the cool thing is what if I told you as an introvert that you’re really a
you as an introvert that you’re really a
you as an introvert that you’re really a Tesla right so you’re a high-performance
Tesla right so you’re a high-performance
Tesla right so you’re a high-performance car you might be quiet and you’re
car you might be quiet and you’re
car you might be quiet and you’re eco-friendly but you also can really be
eco-friendly but you also can really be
eco-friendly but you also can really be energized and powerful imagine what a
energized and powerful imagine what a
energized and powerful imagine what a difference this would make in telling
difference this would make in telling
difference this would make in telling our fellow introverts in the world that
our fellow introverts in the world that
our fellow introverts in the world that this is how they’re built right now if
this is how they’re built right now if
this is how they’re built right now if we don’t do something like this we don’t
we don’t do something like this we don’t
we don’t do something like this we don’t remind introverts of how they drain so
remind introverts of how they drain so
remind introverts of how they drain so quickly and how they work well then
quickly and how they work well then
quickly and how they work well then we’ll see those anxiety and depression
we’ll see those anxiety and depression
we’ll see those anxiety and depression symptoms come up quite big so now that
symptoms come up quite big so now that
symptoms come up quite big so now that we know how introverts drain how can we
we know how introverts drain how can we
we know how introverts drain how can we help them to charge up how can we help
help them to charge up how can we help
help them to charge up how can we help them to replenish and refill the well
them to replenish and refill the well
them to replenish and refill the well there’s a lot of simple things that
there’s a lot of simple things that
there’s a lot of simple things that introverts can do the things that we all
introverts can do the things that we all
introverts can do the things that we all can do first off as I said introverts
can do first off as I said introverts
can do first off as I said introverts love to steep in in the world of the
love to steep in in the world of the
love to steep in in the world of the imagination so the best thing for
imagination so the best thing for
imagination so the best thing for introverts is to go and read just like I
introverts is to go and read just like I
introverts is to go and read just like I did with my friend Emily remember the
did with my friend Emily remember the
did with my friend Emily remember the other thing that introverts can do is to
other thing that introverts can do is to
other thing that introverts can do is to commune with nature and walk in the
commune with nature and walk in the
commune with nature and walk in the woods just like Henry David Thoreau told
woods just like Henry David Thoreau told
woods just like Henry David Thoreau told us that we need to do that every once in
us that we need to do that every once in
us that we need to do that every once in a while to connect to our solitude and
a while to connect to our solitude and
a while to connect to our solitude and the greater connection and mystery of
the greater connection and mystery of
the greater connection and mystery of the world also we need to connect to the
the world also we need to connect to the
the world also we need to connect to the cultural wealth and beauty that we have
cultural wealth and beauty that we have
cultural wealth and beauty that we have like maybe strolling in a museum
like maybe strolling in a museum
like maybe strolling in a museum another thing that an introvert can do
another thing that an introvert can do
another thing that an introvert can do is you know introverts really hate small
is you know introverts really hate small
is you know introverts really hate small talk
talk
talk they hate cocktail party conversation so
they hate cocktail party conversation so
they hate cocktail party conversation so the better thing for them is to connect
the better thing for them is to connect
the better thing for them is to connect with a best friend or a small group with
with a best friend or a small group with
with a best friend or a small group with what my mother used to call little tea
what my mother used to call little tea
what my mother used to call little tea and sympathy because it turns out that
and sympathy because it turns out that
and sympathy because it turns out that introverts love to swim in the depths
introverts love to swim in the depths
introverts love to swim in the depths together with other people who can go
together with other people who can go
together with other people who can go there too now in our very busy and
there too now in our very busy and
there too now in our very busy and buzzing culture where there’s very
buzzing culture where there’s very
buzzing culture where there’s very little room for privacy
little room for privacy
little room for privacy one of the last havens for an introvert
one of the last havens for an introvert
one of the last havens for an introvert is the morning shower which I think we
is the morning shower which I think we
is the morning shower which I think we all kind of look forward to don’t we so
all kind of look forward to don’t we so
all kind of look forward to don’t we so these are things that introverts can do
these are things that introverts can do
these are things that introverts can do and what I did in my counseling with
and what I did in my counseling with
and what I did in my counseling with students at the college level is I
students at the college level is I
students at the college level is I started to engage
started to engage
started to engage this kind of way of thinking about
this kind of way of thinking about
this kind of way of thinking about introversion rather than looking at
introversion rather than looking at
introversion rather than looking at anxiety depression and when I did it was
anxiety depression and when I did it was
anxiety depression and when I did it was like Vera’s dramatic results students
like Vera’s dramatic results students
like Vera’s dramatic results students who came in thinking they had profound
who came in thinking they had profound
who came in thinking they had profound issues all of a sudden started to see
issues all of a sudden started to see
issues all of a sudden started to see them melt away
them melt away
them melt away they had scores of depression and
they had scores of depression and
they had scores of depression and anxiety in the 80s and 90s out of a
anxiety in the 80s and 90s out of a
anxiety in the 80s and 90s out of a hundred all the way up here and usually
hundred all the way up here and usually
hundred all the way up here and usually they stayed consistent from weeks a week
they stayed consistent from weeks a week
they stayed consistent from weeks a week so they thought it was a stable trait
so they thought it was a stable trait
so they thought it was a stable trait but once we incorporated some of these
but once we incorporated some of these
but once we incorporated some of these strategies some of these ways of
strategies some of these ways of
strategies some of these ways of understanding things all of a sudden it
understanding things all of a sudden it
understanding things all of a sudden it dropped down to the same levels that
dropped down to the same levels that
dropped down to the same levels that every ordinary stressed college student
every ordinary stressed college student
every ordinary stressed college student had right and the other thing that was
had right and the other thing that was
had right and the other thing that was so wonderful about this work is that
so wonderful about this work is that
so wonderful about this work is that students progress through their sessions
students progress through their sessions
students progress through their sessions faster they would do in three sessions
faster they would do in three sessions
faster they would do in three sessions what ordinarily would take ten or more
what ordinarily would take ten or more
what ordinarily would take ten or more sessions it was wonderful it was like a
sessions it was wonderful it was like a
sessions it was wonderful it was like a miracle and what I saw was students who
miracle and what I saw was students who
miracle and what I saw was students who were happier and healthier they were
were happier and healthier they were
were happier and healthier they were more productive and more creative and
more productive and more creative and
more productive and more creative and more engaged more recharged more alive
more engaged more recharged more alive
more engaged more recharged more alive now despite all these wonderful benefits
now despite all these wonderful benefits
now despite all these wonderful benefits many of my students still thought of
many of my students still thought of
many of my students still thought of themselves as nobodies still thought of
themselves as nobodies still thought of
themselves as nobodies still thought of themselves like outcasts and I wanted
themselves like outcasts and I wanted
themselves like outcasts and I wanted them to see just what I saw which was
them to see just what I saw which was
them to see just what I saw which was quiet thoughtful bright sensitive
quiet thoughtful bright sensitive
quiet thoughtful bright sensitive powerful individuals who had so much to
powerful individuals who had so much to
powerful individuals who had so much to contribute to themselves and the world
contribute to themselves and the world
contribute to themselves and the world remember that group that I started in
remember that group that I started in
remember that group that I started in the beginning of our talk well that’s
the beginning of our talk well that’s
the beginning of our talk well that’s when I have this funny little idea to
when I have this funny little idea to
when I have this funny little idea to set this group in motion because I
set this group in motion because I
set this group in motion because I wanted introverts to see that not only
wanted introverts to see that not only
wanted introverts to see that not only were they not alone but they were
were they not alone but they were
were they not alone but they were blessed with this unique sensibility and
blessed with this unique sensibility and
blessed with this unique sensibility and that there was more than a pair of them
that there was more than a pair of them
that there was more than a pair of them there were so many of them in fact and
there were so many of them in fact and
there were so many of them in fact and you know the paradox of bringing
you know the paradox of bringing
you know the paradox of bringing introverts together in a group is they
introverts together in a group is they
introverts together in a group is they are the most outgoing Bunch you will
are the most outgoing Bunch you will
are the most outgoing Bunch you will ever find
ever find
ever find so they were delighted by this they had
so they were delighted by this they had
so they were delighted by this they had a place that they could call home they
a place that they could call home they
a place that they could call home they had a place that they could recharge
had a place that they could recharge
had a place that they could recharge every week and they could do it together
every week and they could do it together
every week and they could do it together now imagine if we had more groups like
now imagine if we had more groups like
now imagine if we had more groups like this at our culture imagine if we had
this at our culture imagine if we had
this at our culture imagine if we had more of this across the country as far
more of this across the country as far
more of this across the country as far as I know this was one of the first
as I know this was one of the first
as I know this was one of the first groups we had dedicated towards
groups we had dedicated towards
groups we had dedicated towards introverts in the country wouldn’t it be
introverts in the country wouldn’t it be
introverts in the country wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could have more I
wonderful if we could have more I
wonderful if we could have more I imagine maybe even Emily would have come
imagine maybe even Emily would have come
imagine maybe even Emily would have come to the group if she had been around and
to the group if she had been around and
to the group if she had been around and it had have been around for her so you
it had have been around for her so you
it had have been around for her so you might think that this is only about
might think that this is only about
might think that this is only about introverts right and it’s wonderful that
introverts right and it’s wonderful that
introverts right and it’s wonderful that you can now maybe take this and help
you can now maybe take this and help
you can now maybe take this and help your children your significant other
your children your significant other
your children your significant other your brother or your sister or a perfect
your brother or your sister or a perfect
your brother or your sister or a perfect stranger who you want to try and
stranger who you want to try and
stranger who you want to try and understand better but it turns out
understand better but it turns out
understand better but it turns out introverts are like the canary in the
introverts are like the canary in the
introverts are like the canary in the coalmine they alert us to something
coalmine they alert us to something
coalmine they alert us to something really essential for those of you who
really essential for those of you who
really essential for those of you who read the book the little prince the Fox
read the book the little prince the Fox
read the book the little prince the Fox says one thing very beautiful he says
says one thing very beautiful he says
says one thing very beautiful he says one can only see rightly with the heart
one can only see rightly with the heart
one can only see rightly with the heart what is essential is invisible to the
what is essential is invisible to the
what is essential is invisible to the eye now this is what introverts remind
eye now this is what introverts remind
eye now this is what introverts remind us of I think it turns out that today in
us of I think it turns out that today in
us of I think it turns out that today in this culture we embarked ‘add and
this culture we embarked ‘add and
this culture we embarked ‘add and diverted by all of our different
diverted by all of our different
diverted by all of our different technological devices by Facebook by
technological devices by Facebook by
technological devices by Facebook by Twitter by texts by the 24/7 news cycle
Twitter by texts by the 24/7 news cycle
Twitter by texts by the 24/7 news cycle you name it
you name it
you name it the world is simply too much with us
the world is simply too much with us
the world is simply too much with us right and so introverts remind us that
right and so introverts remind us that
right and so introverts remind us that we all could use a break we all could
we all could use a break we all could
we all could use a break we all could use a reprieve we all could spend some
use a reprieve we all could spend some
use a reprieve we all could spend some time going inward to connect to the
time going inward to connect to the
time going inward to connect to the greatest technology that we have which
greatest technology that we have which
greatest technology that we have which is our connection to the internal world
is our connection to the internal world
is our connection to the internal world if we could all drop into that then we
if we could all drop into that then we
if we could all drop into that then we could all rise to the occasion to meet
could all rise to the occasion to meet
could all rise to the occasion to meet ourselves and the world with greater
ourselves and the world with greater
ourselves and the world with greater vitality creativity and connection and
vitality creativity and connection and
vitality creativity and connection and as Robert Frost said that can make all
as Robert Frost said that can make all
as Robert Frost said that can make all the difference
the difference
the difference thank you so much
thank you so much
thank you so much [Applause]
”
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