An Introvert's Guide To Being True To Yourself - My Story

I’m stepping out of my comfort zone with this one. If you’re new to my newsletter, this might feel like a bit of a detour—but it’s something I’ve been wanting to share for a while. I’d truly love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to drop a comment at the end—whether it’s “Not your best, Linda” or “Loved it—more please.”  

Deep breath… here we go. I can’t believe I’m saying this out loud, but it touches on something I believe is vital: the importance of reducing stress and staying true to yourself. 

As a highly sensitive introvert who gets overstimulated very quickly, I've spent much of my life thinking I was broken, and this was a constant source of stress. Why did I avoid large, noisy crowds?  Why did I lean towards one-on-one conversations instead of getting together with a group of friends? Why did certain people make me feel really uncomfortable? Why did I constantly feel like I didn't fit in? I thought I needed to be extroverted and loud, but I had a hard time pulling it off. It just didn’t feel...right. 

For years, I wondered, What was wrong with me? 

The answer, I eventually discovered, was nothing. I simply needed to connect deeply — with people, with animals, with nature. But in a fast-paced world that rewards surface-level interactions and constant stimulation, those needs were often seen as unusual. So I pushed them aside, denying myself what I truly needed in order to appear more outgoing, more adaptable—more like everyone else. 

I tried to keep up, to fit in. I wore the mask of the enthusiastic employee, the outgoing friend, and stayed out later than I had the energy for. I adopted the values of those around me just to make it through the party, to survive the after-work gathering, to appear “normal” in a culture that favors extroversion. But deep down, I was running on empty. 

Eventually, I came to understand something important: connecting deeply with even one person — really seeing them, really hearing them — is profoundly meaningful. And it doesn’t require being the life of the party. 

In a world of people who seek stimulation, some of us run from it. 

Sensitive introverts often carry an extra weight — the pressure to be someone they’re not. The pressure to keep up, to be louder, faster, more social—it wears you down. The exhaustion creeps in. Over time, pretending becomes exhausting and for me, it led straight to burnout. 

The intensity of the job along with the need to 'fit in' had me re-thinking every decision I made. I had to sacrifice meaningful, productive conversations for superficial chats. I was working to please my bosses and coworkers rather than working to achieve meaningful goals I set for myself. This led to uncertainty, which created stress, and eventually the inability to maintain the grueling pace that I set for myself – for the wrong reasons. Anxiety was running my life, not purpose. 

If what you're doing is not aligned with your core beliefs; in business, in family situations, with friends; then you're failing your Authentic Self.    

Hitting burnout was both a curse and a blessing. Trying to fix it was the curse because it wasn't about setting boundaries and working smarter instead of harder. In my most recent position, it was about being with the wrong people - no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't be like my coworkers. I didn't share their values and they didn't recognize mine. The quiet introvert didn't get a voice at the table because it often meant talking over someone, which didn't align with the importance I place on politeness and respect. Attending scientific conferences was a nightmare because I perceived it as a venue for superficial small talk rather than quiet conversations. Everyone wants to talk to everyone, to be seen and heard, whereas I wanted to find a peaceful corner and have a meaningful one-on-one conversation with someone without having to raise my voice above the hubbub. But without the interaction with others, I unintentionally isolated myself, further contributing to the uncertainty and stress. 

Recognizing why I burned out and finally rediscovering what was most important to me was the blessing. So, at the age of 60, I left my University career in Neuroscience to walk my own path.  

Still...the big questions lingered: Would I be able to maintain my energy during speaking engagements to large crowds? Isn't that pretty much the antithesis of being an introvert? How the heck was I going to build a new career on being at the center of attention instead of in the background? And on top of that was my age. 

I thought I was too old to start over.  

But then I realized, I was right on time.  

I read somewhere that careers in the second half of your life often come with more purpose and meaning. So far, that certainly seems to be true. I feel like I'm finally reconnecting with what makes me truly happy – teaching others. Teaching also allows to be with like-minded people who are willing to listen, and the Q&A after my talks are always a refreshing opportunity to connect with one person at a time. 

But I knew that if I was going to make it—especially while building a new business—I had to prioritize self-care. So I took a step back, did some deep reflection, and created a list of survival strategies that help me stay grounded as a sensitive introvert. If there's one meaningful way I can give back to those who supported and inspired me along the way, it’s by sharing what I’ve learned about living authentically in a world that often pushes us to be someone else. Maybe some of these will resonate with you too… 

1) Embrace my strengths 

Teaching gets me fired up, so channeling this positive energy is an important step. But I recognized that my sensitivity could also be a strength, so teaching with a compassionate focus is an obvious priority for me.  

2) Manage my energy levels 

Channeling my energy into a few hours of focused teaching (or even a get-together with a group of friends) comes with a cost. So I always plan for a day or two of downtime after each teaching engagement – and it's blocked off on my calendar. Giving myself permission to ask others to respect my need for quiet time was a game-changer. My friends and neighbors now understand that when I discreetly disappear from a get-together at 8 or 9pm, it's simply because I'm over-stimulated and need to re-set my nervous system, not because I'm a snob and don't enjoy their company. (Thank you, friends...I love you all for that!) 

3) Engage in activities that help me recharge 

During the downtime after an energy-depleting session, I make a point of spending time in nature and meditation. This is something that truly grounds me. It allows me to slow the racing thoughts and quiet my mind again, freeing up the mental real estate I need to be productive.  

4) Create a supportive social environment 

I made the decision to nurture the meaningful relationships in my life and let go of some not-so-meaningful ones. Positivity in my life became a priority because I recognized how quickly my energy could be depleted by staying in a conversation with someone whose negative energy was stronger than my positive energy. 

5) Find balance by engaging in creativity 

I soon found that building my own business was time-consuming and I could feel the stress creeping back in here and there. This was definitely not how I wanted to start my new life! So I made time for playing the piano, I found creative ways to explore my love of photography, my husband and I started creating wood and resin art (which has turned into a fun little business on its own!), and of course I always make time to be with horses and their significant persons at the barn. 

A Final Note From the Heart 

In keeping with this month's theme of honouring your Authentic Self, I should tell you that it was incredibly difficult to convince myself that my career's worth of knowledge was valuable and that I was worthy of building a business from it – not to mention the financial insecurity I was feeling. But having a supportive husband and a great network of understanding, caring and loving friends made all the difference. Thank you to all of you. Many of you reading this have supported or encouraged me in some significant way and I couldn't be more grateful.