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Learning about personality traits can offer valuable insights. It can be a helpful way to understand how you connect with others and your needs when it comes to relationships.
While introverts and extroverts are two well-known personality types, human behavior is more diverse. A newer term called “otrovert” has emerged, coined by Dr. Rami Kaminski in his book The Gift of Not Belonging, according to HuffPost. Read ahead to discover more about this fascinating personality type.
What is an Otrovert?
If you relate to traits of introverts and extroverts, you may be an otrovert. “An otrovert is someone who may appear extroverted, meaning they gain energy from external sources and relationships and often do not seem to need as much alone time, but who actually has a more introverted nervous system,” Amelia Kelley, a trauma-informed therapist, tells HuffPost. In other words, they can comfortably express themselves with others, but need alone time to recharge afterward.
The term comes from the word otro in Spanish, which means “other.” Due to having introverted and extroverted traits, otroverts may feel like outsiders. “They are often extremely observant, attuned, and sensitive to social dynamics, but it can leave them feeling as if they’re always standing a ‘step back,’” says Cheryl Groskopf, a therapist.
How to Thrive as an Otrovert
Understanding your needs and embracing self-care is key for otroverts. While extroverted behaviors might be praised, it's perfectly normal to need breaks and go inward, especially during periods of feeling overwhelmed. Since otroverts may have felt unseen while growing up, it’s essential to spend time in environments where there isn’t a need to change in order to feel understood.
The Gift of Otroversion
According to Oprah Daily, otroverts are individuals, observers, and free thinkers. They don’t enjoy doing what everyone else is doing or talking about and don’t look for validation. Otroverts also may not enjoy small talk and connect better in one-on-one conversations.
However, being an outsider might be a superpower. “We need this type of person too; they enrich the world. You can accomplish so many things if you are a little outside the box,” Ann Volkwein, a writer and editor in Western Massachusetts, tells Oprah Daily.
One potential strength of this personality type is the ability to quickly spot and identify issues such as groupthink, The Guardian reports. In fact, famous figures including Frida Kahlo, Albert Einstein, and George Orwell are believed to be otroverts.
So if you identify with this personality type, embrace your ability to come up with original ideas and think for yourself. In a world that promotes belonging, otroverts’ tendency to live differently is a gift that can change the world for the better.
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