The Quiet Rise of Introverts: 8 Practices for Living and Loving in a Noisy World

by Brenda Knowles

Overview

Expert advice on building resilience and strong relationships—without draining yourself.

Introverts may not want to go out and party every night—but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to meet people, have fun, and build secure, loving relationships. This guide is designed to help introverted individuals grow and nurture their peace, purpose, and bonds with others, in ways that work for them.

Author, speaker and life coach Brenda Knowles presents eight unique practices to help readers learn that they are not alone or flawed in their sensitivity and introversion, and that they are capable of creating and maintaining relationships. Certified as a Myers-Briggs practitioner and trained in family mediation, Knowles reveals how these practices can yield:

• A calmer sense of self
• A deeper understanding of mental and physical self-care
• An understanding of the purpose of conflict
• Growth in relationship responsiveness
• The secret to healing every day

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781633536425
Publisher:	Mango Media
Publication date:	10/03/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	300
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Brenda Knowles is the creator, writer, and personal/relationship coach of BrendaKnowles.com. She coaches and empowers introverts and highly sensitive people as they process transitions and navigate relationships. Brenda Knowles is best known for her blog, space2live. She believes in the importance of relationships, curiosity, intuition, empathy, and personal evolution. She has studied personality theories and relationship dynamics extensively. She is trained in family mediation. She is a Myers-Briggs practitioner. She lives outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota, with her three children.Christine Williams is a singer and actor based in Ashland, Oregon. Her performance credits include productions at regional theaters and on concert stages across the country and around the world, from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and the Barbican Centre in London to the Aspen Music Festival and the Grotowski Institute in Poland.

Table of Contents

Author's Preface 12

Introduction: Safe in Solitude 16

Section I Dependence 20

Section II Independence 44

Practice 1 Waking Up: Principles of Self-Awareness 48

Practice 2 Calming Our Nervous System: Principles of Self-Care 70

Practice 3 Becoming Whole: Principles of Self-Esteem, Self-Expression and Self-Discipline 101

Section III Interdependence 130

Practice 4 Getting Past Independence: Principles of Love and Relationship 135

Practice 5 Learning from Conflict: Principles of Growth and Healing 158

Practice 6 Calming Each Other's Nervous Systems: Principles of Responsiveness 192

Practice 7 Valuing Community: Principles of Unity and Collaboration 223

Section IV Balance and Fluidity 250

Practice 8 Honoring Our Inner and Outer World 255

Author Bio 292

Notes 294

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Brilliant and a must read for introverts and extroverts alike who have a desire to strengthen their relationship! Brenda's ability to blend research, personal experience, and new insights into practical guidance for the reader are sure to benefit any relationship. I highly recommend it!” —Bill Zajac, author UNBEATABLE MARRIAGE

“Brenda offers sanctuary to countless bewildered gypsy introverts, so tirelessly trying to participate fully and wholly in an extrovert's world. At last a book that talks directly to the introvert, offering a safe, calm place to exhale, to be seen, providing an amalgam of wisdom drawing from critical psychological theory (kudos for attachment theory!), creativity, case studies, widely researched contemporary scholars, writers, (and countless readers of her Blog!) combined with Brenda's welcoming presence, personal journey, whose pages open wide, directly into the heart of each and every reader. I'm grateful for her gifts.” —Roxanne Sadovsky, MA, MFA, CMHC

“In this book Brenda shares personal experiences in a way that makes it very easy to connect her coaching to your own experiences. Many sections of this book felt as though they were written just for me.” —Mark Konietzko

“Brenda's new book has given me such a deep perspective on the hidden dynamics that happen between lovers. I have come to understand many of the unconscious patterns that play out in my own relationship through her wisdom. As a sensitive introvert, I found myself captivated by the maturity of principles that Brenda so easily explains. I would recommend this book to anyone who is in a relationship and also those who are looking for love.” —Melissa Panero, MelissaPanero.com and Beautifully Vulnerable podcast

“Initially, Brenda's blog post" Introvert Relationships: Love Me or Leave Me But Please Don’t Need Me (Too Much)" drew me to her and her writing as she is able to express almost verbatim the thoughts in my head as a highly sensitive person and introvert. Her subsequent coaching has been a tremendous help for me...she has gently nudged me by providing her extensive research and experiences to grow and flourish as an introvert in this world.” —Julia, long time reader and coaching client

“Brenda has been a go to voice of encouragement and wisdom from early on in my journey of discovering what it means to be a highly sensitive introvert. She brings calmness and a positive celebratory approach to help us understand ourselves better and truly thrive from within our busy and overstimulating lives. For me personally she has provided tools to nurture better, closer, and more fruitful relationships with others, and to inspired me to develop a revolutionary self-care practice in my life.” —Andy Mort, andymort.com, singer, songwriter, podcaster and gentle rebel

“We spend tons of energy trying to make relationships work, often at the expense of being who we are authentically. Brenda’s Practices help connect the dots of our experiences, thoughts, feelings, failures and achievements, from child to adult, gently guiding our highly sensitive and introvert selves to a more integrated and healthy way of living and being in relationship.” —Dawn Allred, founder of The Outspoken Thoughts of an Introvert

“Brenda offers sanctuary to countless bewildered gypsy introverts, so tirelessly trying to participate fully and wholly in an extrovert's world. At last a book that talks directly to the introvert, offering a safe, calm place to exhale, to be seen, providing an amalgam of wisdom drawing from critical psychological theory (kudos for attachment theory!), creativity, case studies, widely researched contemporary scholars, writers, (and countless readers of her Blog!) combined with Brenda's welcoming presence, personal journey, whose pages open wide, directly into the heart of each and every reader. I'm grateful for her gifts.” - Roxanne Sadovsky, MA, MFA, CMHC



“In this book Brenda shares personal experiences in a way that makes it very easy to connect her coaching to your own experiences. Many sections of this book felt as though they were written just for me.” - Mark Konietzko



“Brenda's new book has given me such a deep perspective on the hidden dynamics that happen between lovers. I have come to understand many of the unconscious patterns that play out in my own relationship through her wisdom. As a sensitive introvert, I found myself captivated by the maturity of principles that Brenda so easily explains. I would recommend this book to anyone who is in a relationship and also those who are looking for love.” - Melissa Panero, MelissaPanero.com and Beautifully Vulnerable podcast



“Initially, Brenda's blog post" Introvert Relationships: Love Me or Leave Me But Please Don’t Need Me (Too Much)" drew me to her and her writing as she is able to express almost verbatim the thoughts in my head as a highly sensitive person and introvert. Her subsequent coaching has been a tremendous help for me...she has gently nudged me by providing her extensive research and experiences to grow and flourish as an introvert in this world.” - Julia, long time reader and coaching client



“Brenda has been a go to voice of encouragement and wisdom from early on in my journey of discovering what it means to be a highly sensitive introvert. She brings calmness and a positive celebratory approach to help us understand ourselves better and truly thrive from within our busy and overstimulating lives. For me personally she has provided tools to nurture better, closer, and more fruitful relationships with others, and to inspired me to develop a revolutionary self-care practice in my life.” - Andy Mort, andymort.com, singer, songwriter, podcaster and gentle rebel



“We spend tons of energy trying to make relationships work, often at the expense of being who we are authentically. Brenda’s Practices help connect the dots of our experiences, thoughts, feelings, failures and achievements, from child to adult, gently guiding our highly sensitive and introvert selves to a more integrated and healthy way of living and being in relationship.” - Dawn Allred, founder of The Outspoken Thoughts of an Introvert

Editorial Reviews

Brilliant and a must read for introverts and extroverts alike who have a desire to strengthen their relationship! Brenda's ability to blend research, personal experience, and new insights into practical guidance for the reader are sure to benefit any relationship. I highly recommend it!” - Bill Zajac, author UNBEATABLE MARRIAGE



“Brenda offers sanctuary to countless bewildered gypsy introverts, so tirelessly trying to participate fully and wholly in an extrovert's world. At last a book that talks directly to the introvert, offering a safe, calm place to exhale, to be seen, providing an amalgam of wisdom drawing from critical psychological theory (kudos for attachment theory!), creativity, case studies, widely researched contemporary scholars, writers, (and countless readers of her Blog!) combined with Brenda's welcoming presence, personal journey, whose pages open wide, directly into the heart of each and every reader. I'm grateful for her gifts.” - Roxanne Sadovsky, MA, MFA, CMHC



“In this book Brenda shares personal experiences in a way that makes it very easy to connect her coaching to your own experiences. Many sections of this book felt as though they were written just for me.” - Mark Konietzko



“Brenda's new book has given me such a deep perspective on the hidden dynamics that happen between lovers. I have come to understand many of the unconscious patterns that play out in my own relationship through her wisdom. As a sensitive introvert, I found myself captivated by the maturity of principles that Brenda so easily explains. I would recommend this book to anyone who is in a relationship and also those who are looking for love.” - Melissa Panero, MelissaPanero.com and Beautifully Vulnerable podcast



“Initially, Brenda's blog post" Introvert Relationships: Love Me or Leave Me But Please Don’t Need Me (Too Much)" drew me to her and her writing as she is able to express almost verbatim the thoughts in my head as a highly sensitive person and introvert. Her subsequent coaching has been a tremendous help for me...she has gently nudged me by providing her extensive research and experiences to grow and flourish as an introvert in this world.” - Julia, long time reader and coaching client



“Brenda has been a go to voice of encouragement and wisdom from early on in my journey of discovering what it means to be a highly sensitive introvert. She brings calmness and a positive celebratory approach to help us understand ourselves better and truly thrive from within our busy and overstimulating lives. For me personally she has provided tools to nurture better, closer, and more fruitful relationships with others, and to inspired me to develop a revolutionary self-care practice in my life.” - Andy Mort, andymort.com, singer, songwriter, podcaster and gentle rebel



“We spend tons of energy trying to make relationships work, often at the expense of being who we are authentically. Brenda’s Practices help connect the dots of our experiences, thoughts, feelings, failures and achievements, from child to adult, gently guiding our highly sensitive and introvert selves to a more integrated and healthy way of living and being in relationship.” - Dawn Allred, founder of The Outspoken Thoughts of an Introvert

From the Publisher