Western culture worships the extrovert. Society puts extroverts and extroversion on a pedestal.

Introverts and introversion? Not so much.

Where does that leave you as an introvert?

Endlessly exhausted and frustrated and overwhelmed, for starters, as you go about your days in an extroverted world.

Worse, it leaves you feeling trapped and cheated, too — like you constantly have to be someone you’re not. “Fake it til you make it.”

Ugh.

It’s not right. Or healthy. Or fair.

You know what, though? There’s an alternative.

You can just go ahead and be the introvert you are. No more defending your preferences and needs. And no more pretending to be someone else.

Here’s what’s absolutely, undeniably true: