Day 06 – December 06, 2024

Day 06

... the secret weapon for we introverts,

Welcome to Day SIX of our A-Z+ of Seasonal Sanity Savers – 2024.

Today’s letter is ‘E’ – for me this year it is about Empowerment. And it isn’t just a buzz word in my scheme of things.

Empowerment is the secret weapon for we introverts, especially during the festive season. And to be clear, when I’m talking about empowerment, it’s about being able to take intentional steps that enable us to increase our confidence, and take control of our life.

We begin with knowing who we are deep within and treating ourselves with kindness. The better we understand ourselves, the stronger we introverts are able to show up authentically.

So allow yourself a purposeful moment to pause. Reflect on what replenishes your energy and what causes your social batteries drain rapidly. Is it saying yes to gentler, quieter, smaller gatherings that helps you show up with confidence? Or is it respectfully but clearly declining an invite because the setup maybe too large, noisy and overwhelming for you?

Your needs and social capacity are essential when it comes to you feeling empowered, and having that self-awareness is a gift that helps you to decide what is best for you. After all, wouldn’t the host want that you show up as you, and everyone enjoys the evening? And sometimes that means choosing which setting is the right one for you.

Dec 6 Empower

Mind you though, being empowered to take control of your life also means balancing our quiet confidence with humility. It’s not about being loud or rude but about communicating from a place of confidence while being polite, clear and sincere.

So what intentional steps will you take so you feel more confidently in control?

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Tomorrow’s letter is F! Can you guess what word we’ll explore? If you could pick a tool beginning with F for your sanity kit, what would it be? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Missed the first few days? My lovely team got it sorted for you. Grab all the previous day’s Sanity Savers right here 

Quietly, and confidently yours,
-Joanna

  • 2 minutes

Cage Rattler & Bias Shifter – Helping organisations unlock potential by shifting extraversion bias | Coaching quiet leaders | TEDx Speaker |  Trainer | Founder, CEO – Flourishing Introverts | Host – The Flourishing Introvert Talks and (dropping) Pebbles in the Pond | Author – The Flourishing Nudge  | Co-Flourisher, Co-Founder – Intent to Flourish

There is never a good reason

There is never a good reason

to throw people under the bus

Nugget of the Week

 I’m not if this is a nugget or a truth-b*mb, but here it is anyway. Identifying as an introvert does not necessarily limit you to a life of solitary confinement where you are unable to engage with life.

I’ve been shocked at some of the questions asked in many of the introvert groups on social media this week and it’s reinforced why I wanted Introvert’s Corner to be very different. The questions posed demonstrate clearly just how much misunderstanding there is about what introversion is and isn’t including the regular conflation of concepts and issues. 

Here are a selection of some of the posts.

  • INTROVERTS on SOCIAL media, something doesn’t sound right
  • I’m single and I find it so hard to break the ice and talk to women.
  • Can introverts make friends?
  • I’m so introverted that I cry when go to public bathroom. What should I do?
  • Who just wants to stay in bed all day and never leave the house?
  • Most introverts are quiet because they are scared of people judging them
  • No matter how I try to blend with humans, I’m still alien.. I can’t act like them, I can’t talk like them…

Some of these posts hurt my heart and upset me that these people think all of their problems boil down to their introversion. And because we all know that introversion on its own doesn’t need fixing, some are left confused thinking that their behaviour is natural for all introverts.

Fact – Introversion itself is not something that you need therapy or treatment for.

On the other hand, Social anxiety, depression, misanthropy, shyness, low self-esteem, a lack of confidence and poor communication skills are all things that can be changed or improved, if you so choose.

Please don’t allow yourself to conflate issues and problems that can be improved when you work with the right person with your natural introversion.

This Sh** Really Happened!

Eeek – I’ve been in front of the camera again which is not something I usually enjoy. However, when you find a photographer who completely ‘gets you’, it’s a whole different experience.

Back in the spring of 2022 based on the recommendation of someone I really trust, I booked a photoshoot with Brigitta of Nux Photography

As you might imagine, I rather nervous at meeting a new person for the first time who I was immediately going to trust with capturing the essence of who I was. I need not have worried though.

Whilst lively, bright and larger than life, Brigitta identifies as an introvert, so was able to empathise with me and build rapport really quickly. And the outcome was an array of fabulous pics that I’ve been using for the past two and a half years. But that length of time in business when you’re my age is long enough for things to change significantly and the last thing I wanted was for my photos not to reflect who I am now.

And so on Monday of this week, I spent a glorious few hours in the company of Brigitta and her daughter, properly laughing with them as I followed their directions. And I was in good company as also having their photos taken were Nicola and Michelle. That’s not all though – it gets better. My dear friend Helen, a talented beauty therapist kindly came with me to be my make-up artist for the day. It was such fun to watch Helen taking photos of Brigitta taking photos of me!

I’ll soon be able to share some of the official pics and I think you’ll be able to see just how at ease I was.

And, I challenge anyone who says introverts are invisible or like to hide all of the time. Not this one.

Coming up, Buttercup!

It isn’t really inclusive leadership if the leaders are looking at DEI as a tick-box exercise. Inclusion is a serious responsibility and together we must create aware to ensure it is ‘Not Just Lip Service’.

This week, for the Buttercup segment, I give the stage to Szebastian, my colleague and co-founder of our brand ‘Intent to Flourish’. – Joanna Rawbone

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Thank you Joanna.

I am thrilled to share that on 18 December 2024 we are launching our collaborative Audio Event series – Not Just Lip Service (NJLS).

NJLS is an an innovative audio series dedicated to sparking meaningful conversations that lead to real action in business world and humanity at large.

In the premiere episode, we are focusing on Leadership and Inclusion. In a world where Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are often treated as mere checkboxes, we aim to discuss and challenge this mindset by exploring the profound responsibility of creating truly inclusive spaces.

Wouldn’t you agree that it isn’t really inclusive leadership if leaders view DEI as a tick-box exercise. Inclusion is more than policies on a piece of paper – what we need it Intentionality, Action, Accountability, for true and equal flourishing of the first to last member of our community.

DEI is Not Just Lip Service – but a sustained commitment – one that requires genuine and intentionally inclusive leadership.

The inaugural episode will feature an engaging panel discussion with four voices from across the globe, offering unique perspectives on this pressing issue. The panel includes two esteemed guests alongside our dynamic hosts, all representing diverse industries and viewpoints from four different locations worldwide. Check-out full details of the event here. 

You can join us on LinkedIn or click the buttons below to play on the destination platform of your choice.

Intentionally, – Szebastian – Because. I. Am. 

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Hot off the Press

Released this week by the House of Flourishing Introverts. 

If you rate the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify as well as Like, Comment and Share the YouTube video you will be helping other fellow introverts who may find this content helpful, encouraging them to live a more fulfilled and authentic life. 

As ever, I am here in your corner to advocate for you.

  • 5 minutes

Cage Rattler & Bias Shifter – Helping organisations unlock potential by shifting extraversion bias | Coaching quiet leaders | TEDx Speaker |  Trainer | Founder, CEO – Flourishing Introverts | Host – The Flourishing Introvert Talks and (dropping) Pebbles in the Pond | Author – The Flourishing Nudge  | Co-Flourisher, Co-Founder – Intent to Flourish