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Faking It
March 27th, 2010 | 
Author: By Michaela
I’ve been faking it.
There I said it– and do you want to know something? I feel a little better now that I did.
Let me stop your mind from wandering though and clear things up before it gets too far into the gutter… the thing that I’ve been faking is… I’m not an extrovert. Not by any means.
I’m an introvert through and through. I have been all of my life… so much so that in school some people thought that I was a snob when really I was just shy. Yet… when it comes to being online, I’ve been trying my hardest to be an extrovert. So, yes… I’ve been faking it; because being an extrovert when you’re really an introvert is hard work. It’s something that I often feel I’m still not very good at, but I try.
It’s funny, because for much of my life I was, in situations where I had to be, extroverted. I was a cheerleader in high school. I worked retail and sales jobs. I schmoozed with vendors at trade fairs, but the whole time I was just waiting for the chance to be able to be “me” again.
To some extent, the same applies online. While it’s easy for me to put myself out there on my blog and bare my soul for all to see, I find it hard to take the first step and approach others. I find it hard to approach not only PR and companies that I would love to do reviews for, but also other moms that are out there. I have to put on my “game face” when I do and I’ll be honest… I’m sweating bullets the whole time, because it’s a big deal for me. I’m constantly second guessing myself and wondering if I did everything ok or said anything that could be misconstrued or taken the wrong way.
I sometimes wish I could be the social butterfly that my sister is… that it would be easier for me to approach people without all of the inner commentary that goes on in my mind. But, that’s not me. So I will continue to put on my game face and be an extrovert when I have to, all the while glad that I have my warm, soft, safe introverted world to go back to when it’s all over.
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Hahaha, great, I’m introvert too, but the difference is that I don’t fake it.
Too lazy for that hard work.
Cheers!
I’m an introvert as well. It’s HARD to put yourself out there! Ugh. Ugh and Ugh. I think it’s easier to be an extrovert online tho, because you can’t see me. I met my husband online. If I had never told him, “Montana sucks” and then felt bad and apologized when he didn’t respond I’d never have met him. (Okay, I was 16…I wouldn’t use that approach NOW!…And I’m from MT, so I didn’t REALLY mean it…) We talked and talked and told each other everything but when it came time to actually meet? We sat in total silence. When we did talk we babbled incoherently about some candle…Granted, you take my natural shyness and add it to the stress of meeting a boy you reallyreallyreallyreallyohmygoshreally like and it’s going to be worse than with anyone else, but yeah. Anyway, so that’s my example of how I’m different online than in real life.
Loved this post
This is very much my husband! He’s an introvert who often has to be an extrovert at work. This is very thought provoking – I’m pondering now what my online persona is compared to my real-life. And I think I might be nicer online! Uh-oh!
um did i write this without realizing it?? i’m the same way. i’m not near as exciting as i am inside my head lol
in fact, i think i surprise a whole lot of people i know when they read my blog! that said, everything i write on my blog is me and i’m glad i have platform to let everyone know i’m not quite the *goody good* they once thought!
I have never been good at faking it — mostly because I wear my emotions right out where everyone can see them! The same often applies online!
Um, I could have written this post, minus the cheerleading part.
I think I might sometimes sound a little more outgoing on my blog than I am in real life. I’m pretty shy!
I am an extreme introvert too, but on my blog I sound more like an extrovert! I wish I could be that way in social situations. I never approach people first and they probably think I’m a total snob. Good to know there are others out there like me.
Me, too, completely. I come off as an extrovert, but I am totally not. I think it’s because I hate confrontation- good or bad- and will go out of my way o avoid it at any cost.
i’m probably a bit more extroverted. i mean, i’m outgoing around people i know, but if i just met you, not so much. grea tpost. it’s tough to find someone’s online personality and know how they really are IRL.
I wish I knew how to fake it. It would may life so much easier sometimes *wink*. With me, online and irl…it’s a what you see is what you get.
I will say this though, for work, as a ghost blogger, I get to have fun and change it up a bit.
I see how it can be much easier to be outgoing online….and that’s OK and totally cool. Great post.
Oh my word, we sound so much alike! I was very shy all through high school, which came across to some as snobby. Once I married my husband (who is a pastor) I had to come out of my shell a lot, and when I started working at a women’s gym, I had to come completely out. Most people think of me as very outgoing and energetic, and for the most part I am – what you see is what you get. But when I’m ready to unwind, I want to run away from everyone and just hang out at home with my family. The perfect vacation would be spend horseback riding, hiking, canoeing, and reading by a fireplace. Now I think of it, that vacation sounds really good…hmmmm.
Im much nicer online than in person! LOL In real life I just say what I think with pretty much no filter… But online when Im editing and all I can filter myself much easier!
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I am slowly, very slowly becoming an extrovert. It is hard for me though.