Personality is an outcome of three things; Intention + Awareness + Action.

As I was growing up, there were aspects of my personality which I did not like. I have an older sister who is different from me, as night and day. Growing up, my sister was always the fun-loving, extroverted and popular one. She had a large group of friends and an active social life. In contrast, I was the quieter, sensitive, more reserved one. My strengths were more geared towards enjoying my own company, expressing love and kindness, having a rich emotional life, possessing artistic interests and being a voracious reader.

I can tell you that growing up, I definitely wished that I had the same level of extraversion, quick laughter, and social ease my sister possessed. And I like to think that my sister wishes that she had some of my strengths as well.

Now, while we are still very different, both of us are confident and comfortable in our personalities. I have built behaviours that allow me to be easy and graceful in the external world, and I also have my inner world that I come back to, for finding my comfort and peace. I can be extroverted when I want to be, and also celebrate the strengths of my introversion.

Embracing different parts of ourselves, building on our strengths and limiting our limitations, is truly what personality development means.