Shy? Discover Hidden Strength

Writer Anna Moore discovers how introverts can thrive and find secret talents at this sociable time of year

- Anna Moore

Most of us feel shy sometimes – and research suggests that around 40 to 45% of us feel shy often. If you are self-conscious in a crowd, if small talk is arduous and attention makes you feel awkward, it’s easy to focus on the downsides of being shy – but there are positives, too. Shyness and the careful, sensitive temperament from which it springs make the world better for everyone – and can come with built-in super-powers, too...

Shy people are thinkers

They tend to overthink, which can lead to problems, but that mind power allows them to concentrate longer than more restless social butterflies. The shy are often most at ease in their own company, which can also be a strength. We need solitude to reach our potential. The world’s great artists, writers and inventors didn’t have breakthrough moments out on the town!

You don’t jump in with rushed decisions

This caution is valuable. At work, it can make you a master strategist, and at home, when your children are fighting, you’re probably the perfect mediator, able to see all sides without wading in with snap judgements.