I'm curious about how other introverts maintain healthy relationships with extroverts.
Extroverts and introverts often have different expectations for friendships and relationships, and find different behaviors offensive or disrespectful.
Is it easy for you to maintain relationships (of any kind) with extroverts? Or do you gravitate toward bonding with introverts?
From my experience, friendships seem to depend on the extrovert's understanding of introvert habits and needs, and the introvert's willingness to step outside our comfort zones.
As others have said, great thread!
Romantically I've either been drawn to and have had drawn towards me, outgoing and passionate ENXX's or vulnerable Kristen-Stewart-like IXFX's. The dynamics are always different, but I've found those who are extrovert are a much better match for me. Either way I get drained, but I've found it better in such contexts for me to get drained by extroverts rather than introverts. There's also much to gain when compatible opposites unite.
Acquaintance-wise and general friendship-wise, I gravitate more towards introverts, but predominately towards introverted-intuitives. In what I feel is often an E world ruled by ES' and IS' (I've no problem with this, good on them!), there seems to be this innate connection and mutual understanding between myself and many other INXX's. It's like I can feel them out and find them within a large crowd. I often enjoy side conversations with such persons in the midst of larger discussions.
Yet I really value extroverts too. Indeed every person with their various 'types' are necessary and valuable. But I'd say, yet again, I click the most with ENXX's - we share the intuitive wave length, and my Fe/Se loves the externalized passion and enthusiasm - I can bounce off it for a while. What I like about extroverts in general is their energy and the ease with which one can converse with them -although, it can be hard with sensors since I find it hard to keep returning the tennis ball over the net when it involves everyday or non-abstract talk, and I my facial muscles are usually out of action after some time of Fe smiling. Sometimes it gets so bad around ESXX's that I can't even smile anymore - the intention is there, but the physical ability is not. That's when things get really akward!
My best friend is an ENFP - fits the stereotype I know. He's one of the very very very few people I have no inhibitions at all around. I find him boring a lot of the time when he goes on about certain topics that have been spoken to death, and I drive him up the wall too on occasion - but that's great, it's all a part of human living, and it gives me opportunities to die to self in listening to him in sharing about that which interests him - besides, we always return to a topic of mutual interest. He respects my space, and is like a warden who ensures others know this if necessary. I'm very plain to friends I'm close with, and there's that mutual accommodation of oneself to the other which takes place - a vital part of any healthy human bond.
