Social Distancing or Individual Empowerment? Calling Struggling Extroverts

As COVID-19 continues its climb in diagnoses and endless-broadcasted deaths, Social Distancing has wagged from the tongues of countless politicians, and now, our closest circles. Among our concerned peers, our extroverted brethren in particular find themselves grappling with this collective initiative. Despite their pledged support, extroverts seem to be bouncing off the walls of their self-imposed isolation. However, there is a silver lining in all this solitude, and that lies in all the benefits having some alone time can do for one's empowerment.

Now I myself have always leaned (fallen, really) onto the introverted side of the spectrum, and have long encouraged extroverts to explore this more often. So let me shine a light on why this call for Social Distancing can be all about individual empowerment..

First, it's been long proven that time spent alone can lead to a heightened sense of self and introspection. Valuable on its own, and even more so during crises such as these, this leads to us discovering a more intimate version of ourselves. It helps us unearth aspects of our personalities that may be dimmed by the constant seeking of stimulus and socializing. We get to understand our desires and needs without distraction. We grow in ways not always popularized through lens of nights out and hitting the town, and that's okay. It's better even. The conversations with ourselves force us to confront aspects and traits we might not nourish otherwise. Acquainting yourself with the parts that may tremble at the thought of being ''alone'' strengthens your mental state and allows you to take pleasure in your own company. And this is something not nearly enough people of our generation embrace.

Second, Social Distancing lets us know we are all we need. I can't even count the amount of extroverts I've met that tell tales of crushing boredom when left alone. Having grown past my initial confusion at this, it pains me to learn of those who can't pass time without calling up a friend, making social plans or hitting the bars. When you become dependent on others to maintain a state of mental security, you're on thin ice to say the least. Your happiness being dependent on the company of others like a parent claiming their child on their tax form is not a relationship you want. It signals to your mind that should you be cut off from this environment, it leaves you with no healthy alternative. Next thing you know, you're uncomfortable in your own skin, paralyzed from enjoying the person that matters most in that moment: you. This is why introverts are often (not always) found to be more capable individuals, in both thought and action whenever a task is at hand. They understand themselves at an elevated level, and from that height they take sincere joy in going at things solo. It's a prime example how individual empowerment fosters more capable people, unshackled by the worries of social pressures.

Third, it's called passion, sounds like (/ˈpaSHən/). You may already know where I'm going with this, but keep walking anyway. Now alone time can be a key ingredient to many things, but none other is more ecstasy-inducing than discovering a new passion. Easy to create when alone, harder when chatting at the bars; passions leads us to whole roads of discovery. And what better time to discover something new during a socially-pressured, self-imposed quarantine?

You never know what interests can be lurking underneath that social exterior. These undiscovered passions may be more traditional in reading, writing (cough), or traveling. Perhaps it's more of a niche; cosplay, beat poetry, anime or a sudden kink for zoology. Whatever it may be, passions are often a product of alone time, when one can experiment without distraction. It's something you can see in someone's eyes and hear in their voice. All you have to do is say the magic words ''What's your passion?'' Tragically, however, it's also a phrase that brews immense confusion for a lot more people than you'd think. Could this perhaps indicate that we're too often uncomfortable in our own presence? An honest look could very well point to ''yes'', albeit that's a whole other post on its own. So extroverts, put down the phone, cease the constant face-times and texts, and discover something new.

Last, and this one is more of a personal suggestion, and that is to own your magic. I say magic because that's what having comfort in solitude is. It's nothing less than magical. When I see those who derive confidence, and perhaps even a slight arrogance in being surrounded my friends, laughing boisterously and carrying a ''this is the life'' demeanor, I feel pity. Not in a demeaning way, but in a way that expresses concern. I wonder at those periodic times when I'm seen by myself as I witness a group if they'd be just as happy if each were on their own. What if you subtracted the company of friends. What would happen to their demeanor if they weren't being seen at the bar, accompanied by drinks and laughter?

Oddly enough, I've experienced an equal amount of times when I've received looks from those same groups when I was unaccompanied. In lieu of gazes of pity, I found myself being an object of puzzled curiosity. Pairs of eyes pondering as to where my friends are (I have them, I swear) and questioning looks as to why I'm out and about alone. Almost as if I was under some enchantment, some magic. But at the end of the day, that's what confident independence is to some extroverts; magic. So to my fellow social isolators, next time you feel your skin itching from being inside for too long, learn to own your magic. I promise you, it's no trick.

And now that you've been exposed to some new perspectives on Social Distancing; extroverts, how you feeling?