Shyness is the fear of social disapproval or humiliation, while introversion is a preference for environments that are not overstimulating. Shyness is inherently painful; introversion is not.
Susan CainRead
It's important for a parent to learn to take delight in a child whose behavior might seem mystifying. In the case of an extroverted parent with an introverted child, it can be learning to see the inner riches of your child that may not always be expressed on the surface - but are there.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Parents should appreciate the unique qualities of their children, even when they don't fully understand them.
This quote emphasizes the importance of recognizing and appreciating the inner qualities of children, particularly those who may express themselves differently than their parents expect or understand. It highlights the need for parents to look beyond surface behaviors to see the deeper, often unexpressed, inner richness of their children, fostering a deeper connection and understanding in their relationship.
Themes
ParentingChildrenAppreciationUnderstandingConnection
In practice
Example use cases
In a parenting workshop, this quote can be used to discuss the nuances of understanding different personality types in children.
More from Susan Cain
All quotes →We need to do teacher training to educate them about what temperament means. Shyness is painful and you want to help a child with shyness - but the underlying temperament of being a careful, sensitive person is to be honoured, valued and respected.
Susan CainRead
But when the group is literally capable of changing our perceptions, and when to stand alone is to activate primitive, powerful, and unconscious feelings of rejection, then the health of these institutions seems far more vulnerable than we think.
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We don't need giant personalities to transform companies. We need leaders who build not their own egos but the institutions they run.
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What if you love knowledge for its own sake, not necessarily as a blueprint to action? What if you wish there were more, not fewer reflective types in the world?
Susan CainRead
[Introverts,] the world needs you and it needs the things you carry. So I wish you the best of all possible journeys and the courage to speak softly.
Susan CainRead
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