The Friends Game: A System For Thriving As An Introvert
The gist: If you want strong relationships, but you’re not naturally inclined to build them, this system will help motivate you to stay in touch with people you care about.
I’m an introvert. Left to my own devices, I prefer to spend my time alone, working on things I find interesting or important.
That doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy having a tapestry of friends or going out to busy places. In fact, I do these things regularly. I even like organizing big parties on the rare occasions I can muster the energy for it.
But being an outgoing socialite is not my natural state. Nine times out of ten, if you ask me what I’d like to do, my answer will be to stay home and play a game. Or maybe go out for a quiet cup of tea with one or two friends.
My natural, happy state is to keep to myself. I have a rich and very rewarding inner-life. I can sit alone and just think about stuff for hours.
- Why is the sky blue? Let’s look it up on Wikipedia!
- How many different types of plants can I name in 10 minutes?
- What can I do to improve my workout routine? Let’s learn how muscles work…
Yet, I realize part of being a successful human is fostering relationships.
The more great people I have in my corner, the more inspired I am in my work. The more driven I am to improve myself. And the more resources I have to solve difficult problems or do big things I couldn’t do on my own.
It just doesn’t come naturally.
Bone in Mouth Syndrome: Live Happier With Two Easy Rules
Fellow Riskologist, Fred The Dog was at the park with his owners, chewing on his bone. As he sat and gnawed, he noticed that other dogs had bones too. Some of them were bigger than his. And some looked tastier. That’s when Fred experienced something he’d never felt at home alone with his bone—envy. Suddenly,…
7 Truths About Life and Risk I Learned From A Crazy Dude At Starbucks
Fellow Riskologist, Yesterday, as I sipped tea and made notes for the coming week, an odd man sat down beside me. Starbucks is my default mobile office these days. I’m like a platinum preferred guest now. I’m on a first name basis with all the baristas within 5 miles of my house, and when I…
Stick To It: A Different Way To Think About New Year’s Resolutions
Every year, I notice an increase in the number of people out for morning runs right after the new year. And I always think to myself, “January is a lousy month to start running. It’s so cold!” Over the next few weeks, the numbers start to dwindle until it’s back to just me and a…