If they were routinely forming the intent to approach even though it drained them, THAT would reflect a policy of forcing themselves to behave in an extroverted way. Merely making yourself carry through on an already-formed intent rather than waving it away with a sheaf of vague excuses? That’s just good mental hygiene.
Making yourself carry through on an already formed intent to engage in socialization in scenarios of a certain kind is a systematic increase in socialization. It’s not the formation of the intent to socialize that’s draining, it’s the actual socialization. It sounds to me like you’re trying to have things both ways, whereby introverts get to engage in extra socialization at no cost, which is just not how it works.
On the contrary, I accounted for the costs. That was the point of the final paragraph—that they have costs. If they’re important actions to take, it makes sense that they have costs. If they’re important, it makes sense that you accept those costs as necessary. [1]
If they’re not, of course, then no such acceptance, nor any action, is required. But as long as you agree (really agree, not just agree because it’s not that far off the truth, or to be nice), you will make the sacrifice. The only alternative is that they’re not actually that important to you right now, and you just believe that they are.
[1] For example, as an extrovert, reflection (particularly self-reflection) drains me, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less important for people universally to regularly, systematically reflect, just because it has that cost to me and many others. In some real sense the drainingness is much magnified by my lack of skills in the area. I don’t get to say it’s too hard just because it is hard. I can only win if I do it in spite of, or even BECAUSE it’s hard.
For example, as an extrovert, reflection (particularly self-reflection) drains me, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less important for people universally to regularly, systematically reflect, just because it has that cost to me and many others.
Speaking as an introvert, socialization drains me, but I socialize. Obviously, the costs of not doing so at all would be far greater to me than the cost of engaging in some socialization.
Suppose I told you right now, “You should triple the amount of time you spend in self reflection, because self reflection is highly valuable.” We both recognize that self reflection is highly valuable, but that doesn’t mean that I’m giving you good advice, because I’d be offering it without regard for the fact that I have no information on your cognitive limits relative to the amount of time you spend at it already.
Whatever amount of self reflection you’re currently at, I could ask you “if you really agree self reflection is important, why don’t you do it more?” Obviously there are suboptimal levels for a person to engage in, but that doesn’t mean I’m in any position to assume that you’re still at a point where adding more is worth the costs.
Yes, I had forgotten that introverts have a stronger focus on habits/routines, and so they could form intent without necessarily thinking it good in the particular instance. As someone who mostly struggles to cultivate habits, I was thinking as if intent necessarily indicates that you’ve decided applying it in this instance to be good already. So I guess I was surprised by the comparison between absolute and relative value.
Anyway I take your point about diminishing returns. I’m aware I tend to behave far too sanguine to properly consider the effect of diminishing returns, and just pick whatever seems to help me charge ahead; or to put it another way, if I don’t have an imperative it seems like I have nothing.
At least I’m aware that these effects will diminish through clear thinking.
Making yourself carry through on an already formed intent to engage in socialization in scenarios of a certain kind is a systematic increase in socialization. It’s not the formation of the intent to socialize that’s draining, it’s the actual socialization. It sounds to me like you’re trying to have things both ways, whereby introverts get to engage in extra socialization at no cost, which is just not how it works.
On the contrary, I accounted for the costs. That was the point of the final paragraph—that they have costs. If they’re important actions to take, it makes sense that they have costs. If they’re important, it makes sense that you accept those costs as necessary. [1]
If they’re not, of course, then no such acceptance, nor any action, is required. But as long as you agree (really agree, not just agree because it’s not that far off the truth, or to be nice), you will make the sacrifice. The only alternative is that they’re not actually that important to you right now, and you just believe that they are.
[1] For example, as an extrovert, reflection (particularly self-reflection) drains me, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less important for people universally to regularly, systematically reflect, just because it has that cost to me and many others. In some real sense the drainingness is much magnified by my lack of skills in the area. I don’t get to say it’s too hard just because it is hard. I can only win if I do it in spite of, or even BECAUSE it’s hard.
Speaking as an introvert, socialization drains me, but I socialize. Obviously, the costs of not doing so at all would be far greater to me than the cost of engaging in some socialization.
Suppose I told you right now, “You should triple the amount of time you spend in self reflection, because self reflection is highly valuable.” We both recognize that self reflection is highly valuable, but that doesn’t mean that I’m giving you good advice, because I’d be offering it without regard for the fact that I have no information on your cognitive limits relative to the amount of time you spend at it already.
Whatever amount of self reflection you’re currently at, I could ask you “if you really agree self reflection is important, why don’t you do it more?” Obviously there are suboptimal levels for a person to engage in, but that doesn’t mean I’m in any position to assume that you’re still at a point where adding more is worth the costs.
Yes, I had forgotten that introverts have a stronger focus on habits/routines, and so they could form intent without necessarily thinking it good in the particular instance. As someone who mostly struggles to cultivate habits, I was thinking as if intent necessarily indicates that you’ve decided applying it in this instance to be good already. So I guess I was surprised by the comparison between absolute and relative value.
Anyway I take your point about diminishing returns. I’m aware I tend to behave far too sanguine to properly consider the effect of diminishing returns, and just pick whatever seems to help me charge ahead; or to put it another way, if I don’t have an imperative it seems like I have nothing.
At least I’m aware that these effects will diminish through clear thinking.
Thanks for your patience.