What’s your Myers Briggs type? This is a common question we get on the race and it is something we talk about often. I have found that it is actually pretty neat learning more about yourself and how other people operate.
One of my fellow teammates, Melanie, is without a doubt an introvert and has become very aware that I am the complete opposite, an extrovert. She wrote a blog titled “How to thrive on the Race as an Introvert” (click here to read it). After reading it myself, I was confused as all get out on how someone could actually thrive living their life like that and more importantly I disagreed that FOMO (fear of missing out) is stupid. We talked and laughed about the few similarities and countless differences. She has challenged me with writing a blog on how to thrive as an extrovert. So, here are a few tips and tricks of the trade for all of the extroverts out there who are either on the race or getting ready to go that I hope you find beneficial:
1. Did God create you to be an extrovert?
If you enjoy and get energy from being around other people, chances are you an extrovert. God designed you to be that way and there is nothing wrong with it. In fact, being on the race you will likely thrive naturally because you will be surrounded by other people
2. How to keep your sanity on rest days.
Usually once a week your team is going to have a rest day. These can either be days of torture or days that fill you up. In order for it not to be a day of torture, I strongly suggest that you do not talk to any of the introverts on your team the whole day. If you do they will most likely try to bite or hit you. AVOID AT ALL COST. Find the extroverts and conspire together on how to tackle the day by leaving the house to go play and have fun. If all else fails, there are usually always locals who will be interested to hangout with you, so just go look around outside and make some new friends.
3. FOMO (fear of missing out) is not stupid.
FOMO is real and it is good! If you are tired and laying in bed, but hear others still talking and hanging out in the common area chances are you are missing out on the best night of your life. Get out of bed immediately and go hang out because even if after the fact it wasn’t worth it, you still got more time with hangin’ with the homies.
Every once and awhile you will get tired. If this is the case and some people on your team are going out to do something, DO NOT MISS OUT. You will regret not going, so put your tiredness aside and know that sleep is for the weak. You’re an extrovert and get charged by being around others, so you will be just fine.
4.Bring Speakers.
Why would you ever want to horde your music to yourself? Leave those headphones behind and bring the loudest speakers that you’ve got! The louder the music the more likely it is that you will draw a crowd, or even better you will get an introvert out of their lonely quite cocoon to come speak, even it it’s just a few words to you (usually it is, “turn that music off”). If someone tells you to turn it off they most likely just need about 5 more minutes of quiet, so set your timer and when it buzzes you are in the clear and ready to crank that bad boy up again!
5.How to make long days even better.
After a long day of ministry and being around everyone on your team, who really wants to just go be by themselves once you get home? Not me! So, to avoid this problem as soon as you return home be ready to play a game with everyone and make sure they all know it is mandatory, no matter how tired they might be. Because chances are after being around everyone all day you are not tired of them yet and still have so much more energy to give. My top suggestions include dancing, singing, cards, obstacle courses, rap battles, fish bowl, watch a movie, heads up, mafia, hide and go seek, freeze tag, and if all else fails just do the hokey pokey.
6. What reading a book really means.
If you ever catch anyone sitting alone reading a book, chances are they are probably bored and want to hang out. Who better to approach them than the extrovert who hates being bored and reading books? Bug them however you feel fit until they agree to not be bored anymore and hangout with you. Do not take no for answer. Tell them to suck it up and get over their “I just need my alone time” shenanigans because little do they know they are actually bored.
7. Set boundaries.
It is very important to set good and clear boundaries for yourself. The best boundary you can set is by always being the last person awake, so that means stay up as late as you can every night. If you do this, chances are you will successfully spend as much time around other people as possible. Another good boundary is to never be alone. My rule of thumb is if I ever catch myself alone I immediately run around to find the nearest person. Once that person is found I take a deep breath and know that everything is going to be okay and start talking to them.
8. Feedback.
Usually once a day or so your team will come together for team time and feedback. This is a great time for you because everyone is all together and hangin’ out. Chances are they will probably bring something up about how you need to cool your jets and how you are always being loud and never give enough “alone time” or “quite space.” I have learned very quickly that they don’t really mean it because I know deep down they love me interrupting them 60% of the time, every time.
9. Sacrifice.
More likely than not everyone on your team is an introvert and you feel alone. This is a great opportunity to put your thoughts and feelings aside by putting your team first and loving them well. This means to give them no more than 30 minutes of alone and quiet time because that is usually all that I can take by sitting alone and being quiet.
It’s probably pretty easy to see how as an extrovert you will thrive on the race. Following these tricks of the trade will guarantee you to do well and for you to quickly become everyone’s favorite person on your team. Best wishes to all the extroverts out there. Get out there and THRIVE!
*Warning: This has not been approved by Nathan Streyle or any extroverts on my squad*
