How to rattle an introvert...

An amazing exercise I recently went through with my business coach was to uncover common themes in my life - or my “word streams”.

It started with an epic writing session - about 12 pages of my life story starting from as far back as I can remember, up until the day I finished writing (some time last week), then plucking out the words that stood out.

Looking at a bunch of words that summarise me is actually kinda cool - and I love the idea that I potentially share some of these with lots of people.

The point of the exercise: Mostly, we likely know our values, drivers, and deal-breakers, but this exercise helped me understand some underlying traits that I have to both embrace, and come to terms with at the same time.

Sharing it publicly wasn’t part of the exercise - being quite introverted and fiercely protective of my privacy, it’s a pretty wild thing to share. But I’m cool with it 🙂

So here’s me 👋 if you see yourself anywhere in here, feel free to say hi.

• Bratty
• Needy
• Easily hurt, fragile
• “Good” kid
• Against the grain - if everyone is doing something one way, I want a different way
• Wasn't a “one group” kid - liked to mingle
• Sport nut
• Love athletics
• Insecure
• Love my family
• Care about my friends
• High expectations of myself
• Keen powers of observation
• Strong personal values
• Mouthy - can antagonise a bully
• Clear with goals, always known where I was aiming
• Enjoy getting praise, but dislike attention
• Don’t like being “told” what to do
• Dreamer - lots of ideas and goals but don’t always start
• Fear of being inferior
• Naive
• Moments of extreme patience
• Moments of extreme rage
• Not great at asking for help when I’m in deep
• Can ask for help when I can see the path forward
• Pride is a downfall
• Sometimes get obsessive about an idea and see it all the way through
• Can be measured, considered and balanced
• Adventurous
• Easily offended when my family is dismissed, the only time I hold a grudge (I think)
• Believe respect is earned and not commanded, and go the opposite way on people who command it without earning it
• Family family family (just like dad)
• Protective of family and friends
• Despise racism and 'hate' talk
• Can be judgemental
• Compassion
• Solitude
• Appreciate privacy
• Get annoyed with nosiness and people disrespecting the privacy of others, especially if it’s the privacy of my fam/friends
• Very protective of people I love
• Loyal - I place a high importance on being available for someone if they’re part of my life
• Dedicated - If I’ve committed to something, I work hard to keep that commitment sometimes to my own detriment