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Is It Possible for an Introvert to Become an Extrovert?
The answer isn’t a simple yes or no
It’s a question I’ve asked myself in the past: Is it possible for an introvert to become an extrovert? The short answer is “kind of.” But after studying what true introversion is, I believe the better answer is why would you want to?
If you wish to become an extrovert, what are your reasons? Is it because you want to be able to do all the things extroverts do: be bold on stage, hold the room in conversation, or approach strangers with ease? Or do you want the image of being an extrovert and for people to like you?
If you want to do all the things extroverts do, I have good news: You can. I do, and I’m a 100% bona fide introvert. Stage presence and conversation prowess may not come naturally, and you may have to learn certain skills, but you can do it the introvert way and enjoy it even more. However, if you only want the image of being an extrovert, here’s the hard truth: It’s not going to work out, so stop that mission immediately. You’ll never measure up to the image you want, and that can lead to mental health pressures.
Here’s what I find comforting: While you can’t switch from being one to the other — it’s partly genetic, after all — you can change some of the behaviors linked to your introversion and act like an extrovert at certain times. I’ve spent my life on stages and in front of cameras. I love having a laugh with a class of acting students, messing about and playing around, and am completely happy leading groups. I’ve been a DJ, musician, and actor. Introverts can do all this and more.
You can also get rid of what some people see as introverted traits: shyness, awkwardness, and social anxiety. While these traits can certainly coexist with introversion, they’re far from a necessary part of it. So it may be that you never meant to ask the question “Is it possible to become an extrovert?” Your real question is more likely to be “How can I not be shy or awkward?” or “How can I help my social anxiety?”
As introverts, we have an ace up our sleeves. Research has found that when we’re really passionate about something, if we need to act like an extrovert in order to achieve that thing, we can do it just fine. We may have a bit of an introvert…
