Energy Awareness, Not Labels: The Ambivert Path

Are you an introvert, extrovert, or ambivert—and does it really matter?

In this episode of Brave Moves, Julie DeLucca-Collins explores the differences between introversion, extroversion, and ambiversion while revealing the real key to personal growth: energy management.

Julie discusses how introverts and extroverts gain and lose energy, why personality labels shouldn't become limitations, and how understanding your energy can improve your relationships, confidence, productivity, and well-being.

In This Episode

•  What introverts, extroverts, and ambiverts are 
•  The difference between personality and energy 
•  Why introverts can get stuck overthinking 
•  Why extroverts need quiet reflection 
•  How to identify what energizes and drains you 
•  The connection between energy and personal growth 

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Transcript

0:01

Have you ever heard someone say, "I'm an introvert," or, "I am an extrovert"? Almost like it's a permanent label, a fixed identity, a box they have to live inside forever. And the question isn't whether you're an introvert or an extrovert, but if the better question is how do you manage your energy, we would be moving in a better direction. And I know that I say that I'm an extrovert all the time, but I've been thinking about this because the truth is understanding your energy may be more important than understanding your personality. And before we dive in, if you're joining me for the first time, the majority of people who listen are not subscribed. My friend, I hope that you do find a little bit of time to just hit subscribe so you don't miss an episode. And please share this episode with maybe someone who is not an introvert or extrovert, but maybe somewhere in between. And stay with me till the end because I wanna share why the most successful people often learn to access all three lifestyles, and why protecting your energy may be one of the most important things you ever do. So let's unpack this. What is an introvert? Let's start with that. Most people think introverts are shy. That's not necessarily true. Introversion isn't about social skills or, the quality of how connected you are to the outside world It's about where you get your energy. And introverts, I know that my husband definitely falls in this category, he tends to recharge through solitude, reflection, quiet, thinking, maybe processing things internally. And after a busy day, an introvert often needs time alone to recharge. But here's something we don't often talk about. An introvert can become trapped inside their own head. Too much reflection can become overthinking. Too much solitude can become isolation. And too much internal processing can become inaction. And at some point, though, we need to understand that our thoughts need to become conversations, and ideas need to become action, and dreams need to be shared with the outside world. So now let's talk about the extrovert. Extroverts gain energy from interaction. 100% for me. However, even though I often think out loud and I process ideas through conversation, and like most extroverts, perhaps this is you, too, you enjoy being around people. You often feel energized after a social engagement. But extroverts can also have some challenges. Too much activity can become a distraction. Too much talking can replace thinking. And too much external stimulation can make it difficult to hear our own inner voice. Even extroverts need moments of reflections. So lately, I've been hearing the term ambivert. And let's talk about the ambiverts. They live somewhere in the middle. They can enjoy social interaction, but they can also enjoy solitude, and they can adapt based on the situation. And honestly, most people probably short somewhere in the spectrum. Very few people are completely introverted or completely extroverted. Most of us move between the two on circumstances, stress level, seasons of life, and energy availability. So the real question isn't about personality. The real question is, what, my friend, gives you energy? And what drains your energy? Because your life changes when you start paying attention to energy management Some activities are always gonna energize us, and some relationships are also gonna give us some more energy, and the environments we're in can, too, energize us. And however, there's gonna be others that drain us. I know I hang out with some people that after hanging out with them, I need to just chill because I feel my energy has definitely been drained. And a lot of times many of us ignore the signals. Energy is everything, my friend. There's a saying I love, "Where attention goes, energy flows." But I would add, where energy flows, life grows. And if your energy is constantly depleted, everything becomes harder. Your creativity is gonna suffer. Your patience and confidence will suffer as well. In addition, your relationships will be suffering, and your health, like I've seen so many different times, will suffer. And eventually your dreams are the ones that fall victim, and your dreams will suffer because the lack of energy. In my own experience, I think that I am in a season of life in which I still love to be in the thick of things with friends and going out and just enjoying myself with a group of people. However, because my energy is really being used with my mom and thinking about all the things that I need to do to support her, also the business and being a wife and a doggy mama 'cause now I'm, making dog food, I think my energy is definitely being directed in a different way, and I find myself needing a little bit of solitude, needing a little bit of that reconnection I think as a podcast host too, and a community builder, people often assume that I'm comfortable on stage and that I'm energized by constant interaction. But someone still needs to step away, and this is why I started a garden. This is why I like to sit in my zen den because I find that it allows me to recharge. Now, my friend, I wanna take a quick moment and remind you that I am the sponsor of this podcast. And if you're looking for a supportive community where you can grow, learn, and break away from being stagnant and maybe make those brave moves every day, don't do it alone. Come join the Confident You Co-op and the community. The information is in the show notes, so go check it out. You never know, this may be exactly what you're looking for. Now, let's get back to the episode. The goal overall is not that we carry a label. One of the biggest mistakes we make is using personality labels as excuses, and when we say, "I can't network," or, "I'm an introvert," or, "I'm an extrovert, I can't slow down, I need to keep going, I need to go, go, go, go," these labels really aren't limitations. They're information. Think about it. When you label yourself, this is an information that you can then take and decide. Because I've seen introverts learn to speak on stages. You can be an extrovert and learn to sit quietly with your thoughts. Growth happens when we expand our current range. Now, you don't need to become somebody else, my friend. You need to simply understand how you operate and honor that energy. And here's your brave move for the week. Take inventory. Ask yourself, "What activities give me energy?" Maybe look at the activities that are draining you, and the people also who energizes you or who depletes your energy. Maybe there's some specific situations in which you're in and you walk away, and you feel like you've given it all. And when you figure this out, make an intentional adjustment. Not next month, not this week, because protecting your energy is not selfish. It's very strategic. My friend, you don't have to fit neatly into a personality box. You don't have to choose between being an introvert or extrovert. The goal is not a label, the goal is awareness. Because when you understand your energy, you can lead better, you can love better, you can create and live better, and that is your brave move, friend