Did you know there is such a thing as a transparent butterfly? Recently a friend emailed me some photos of this beautiful insect that comes from Central America. A quick internet search will find you many photos of this beautiful butterfly. The transparent butterfly is more of a metaphor for an introvert than you might first think. No, not a social butterfly but more like the transparent creature.
Note: this blog post was first published on October 12, 2009.
Introverts Are You More a Social or Unusual Transparent Butterfly?
Butterflies are fragile to touch.
If you ever tried to catch one, just like a dragon fly, you know that their wings are ultra thin to touch. An introvert may or may not be a highly sensitive person, research differs on that. But an introvert knows that their energy is fragile. It needs to be paid attention to, cared for and replenished. Fragile in an energetic way.
Specifically the transparent butterfly’s transparency serves as camouflage. Even though they appear fragile, their transparent design serves to protect them.
While the most empowering and energizing thing for an introvert is to use their strengths in personal relationships and conversations, sometimes, we have to take on those extrovert tendencies. It’s at those times we want to remember to wear our camouflage, use those extrovert skills we’ve learned.
I can think of times when I was actively in the community attending networking events. Talk about camouflage!
Often I would meet up with a more extroverted friend. This is always helpful for me in particular if I don’t know many people.
Other times I would volunteer to help with registration or set-up. Either giving me the time to meet other people without all the chatter.
When bred in captivity the glasswing butterfly, another name for the transparent butterfly is quite resilient.
At work and in our personal lives, situations of all magnitudes happen to us. It’s at those time it’s more healthy to respond instead of react. This allows for more resilience. The typical introvert thinks through such situation and inevitably, finds they too are resilient.
The butterfly’s transparent appearance is also a reminder about finding clarity. For an introvert, thinking before speaking and planning before doing ensure more clarity and calm for us in most situations where we are allowed the time to do so. Forced to be a social butterfly, an introvert will lose their strength.
[Tweet “But as has been said about the transparent butterfly, it can also be said about the #introvert: “]
But as has been said about the transparent butterfly, it can also be said about the introvert: “All things beautiful do not have to be full of color to be noticed: in life that which is unnoticed has the most power.” And isn’t this encouraging for introverts?
What do you think?
Introverts Are You More a Social or Unusual Transparent Butterfly?
photo credits httpss://commons.wikimedia.org
First of all that is some beautiful butterfly and some beautiful metaphor, too. I usually do well in social situations, as ling as they don’t go on forever. I have learned to give myself those pep talks. But I do have moments too, where for whatever reason, I dread the occasion and those are really hard. I think you have a brilliant idea of sitting at registration so you can meet but not have to chatter! I’m going to remember that!
Patricia — I think as either an introvert or extrovert, we have to find ways to lessen the pressure on ourselves to always ‘be on” in those situations where we are at a crowded event. No one is holding a gun to our head and forcing us to make X number of connections. There are times when i just don’t want to be social so I’ll hang back, say hi to the people I know, and leave. Do what suits your comfort zone at that time. There will always be other events to attend.
What a beautiful article. Your butterfly illustration is spot on.
Introverts are more likely to think before speaking, therefore they are more in tune with the other person and in control of their words. Naturally, I like to appear composed and coherent.
I am happy to be in the midst of a crowd but when I am ready and prepared for it. I have been known to slip away when at a celebration to have a few moments to myself. I even did this at one of my parties!
Where were your blogs when I was a confused teen? I had no idea I was an introvert; why I preferred books to hanging out, why I was happy not being in a crowd, why I said very little but had so many thoughts running through my mind.