The Powerful Purpose of Introverts: Why the World Needs You to Be You

In short, thank you Holley. What’s understood doesn’t require exhaustive explanation. Insight governed by the grace of the gospel and personal experience.

The Powerful Purpose of Introverts by Holley Gerth uncovers who God created us to be as introverts in our bodies, minds, hearts, and souls. She delves into the gifts, quiet efforts, and strengths of introverts as well as the struggles we face; depression, anxiety, self-criticism, loneliness, awkwardness, and comparison. She offers resources, tools, scientific studies and data, Bible verses, and personal stories to define and demystify introversion. Her own personal experience as an introvert gives her the authority to shed a much-needed light on this topic.Holley Gerth describes introverts as deep-thinkers, inward-focused, those who possess an intense love for people with a strong sense of empathy, driven to make a difference, find comfort and reflection in a slower, calmer life, and who care so much for others it can be overwhelming. I never realized how much I’ve allowed my misperceived flaws and inadequacies of being introverted harness me and cause me shame. I now have clarity and a greater understanding of how I’m wired. Holley Gerth’s power packed book allows the reader to focus on serving the greater good in place of being tripped up and held back by their perceived struggles and weaknesses.The author pulled away the veil on misperceptions I’ve lived behind for most of my life. I’ve been aware that time alone is essential to my well-being and that crowds feel exhausting but I never knew why. Holley Gerth laid it all out in the pages of her amazing book. It’s wonderful to realize all the characteristics of an introvert that I saw as flaws are indeed divine gifts.The author guides the reader through various exercises; determining the strengths and skills you possess and who they benefit the most, creating your introvert vision and Introvert Purpose Statement which allows you to focus on your highest priorities. She offers solutions to the struggles introverts face and ways to work through them. I found each chapter to be eye opening and I especially enjoyed the one about intentional energy. I tend to push myself, to my own detriment, as I offer help to others and feel guilty taking time to rest and recharge. This chapter provided great insights and tools to help prevent burnout.The following quotes by Holley Gerth sum the book up perfectly for me; “Embracing who we truly are takes courage and hard work, especially if we’ve felt pressure to be someone we’re not.” And, “Growth happens not by changing who we are but by learning how to move away from struggles and toward our strengths.” “Doing so activates our gifts, increases our well-being, and empowers us to make our greatest contributions to the world.”I found The Powerful Purpose of Introverts to be a wonderful guide to implement in my life as an introvert. It’s refreshing to read a book where the author “gets you” and also provides healthy ways to look at yourself without shame or condemnation. I love Holley Gerth’s writing and I feel blessed by the powerful messages and truths within the pages of her newest book. I look forward to embracing a life that is true to myself and the characteristics God gifted me with to serve Him and others well.

I can’t recommend this book enough for all introverts or those married to one. It’s so honest and engaging. As an introvert it helps you understand we are not alone and completely nuts. Gives helpful advice and insight for ourselves. Sends you to tests to take to help identify oneself. Really appreciate her honesty and guidance of what she’s learned.

I struggle sometimes to write a review right when I’ve finished a book. I like to let it sit with me for a bit. I like to marinate in it and see what sticks, what I remember, what I go back to. (Maybe this is one of my introvert powers!) The Powerful Purpose of Introverts has been easy to rate and review and recommend throughout the time I’ve spent with it.I highly recommend this book to introverts and to those who love them. Sometimes we get lost in the shuffle. Sometimes we lose ourselves in the shuffle. Sometimes we wish we were more or different or better or stronger. Gerth shows us instead that we are who we are and who we are is whom we were made to be. She helps us break down the unique strengths of introverts. She helps us call out the strengths and skills and different parts of our personality that are a gift to the world around us, to our communities. And then she guides through writing a purpose statement. This is practical and important (and extremely vulnerable) work.Honestly, I have read a lot of “self help” books. This isn’t that. This is self empowerment. It’s self motivation. It’s self awareness. It’s self reframing. Gerth links to several assessments to help you see your strengths and what you have to offer the world while also identifying the areas that might trip you up. What you do with it is up to you. (And honestly, chapter 11 is worth whatever price to purchase all by itself!)

As an introvert, I nodded my head "yes" many times while reading The Powerful Purpose of Introverts. I appreciated that this book is both full of practical information to do with what make an introvert an introvert (how certain chemicals in the brain impact introverts and extroverts differently, for examples), as well as the other side of things - how to live in a world that seems made to be noisy, fast-paced, and flashy. I especially loved the chapter on anxiety and depression, as I feel like that is a common struggle with introverts, myself included.Gerth's tone is open and easy to follow, and I loved all of the extra bits of information. She pulls from well-known writers, speakers, leaders, and sometimes figures from history to underline her points, and it really gives the book a well-rounded feeling. It is obvious she has done a great deal of research on the topic and is also willing to share her personal journey as an introvert. Her style is conversational, so I never felt talked down to or bogged down by too much information.I think introverts will find a lot of value in this book, but extroverts will, too, especially if a close friend or family member are introverted. I actually liked the information about extroverts as well because I do have extroverts in my life who I love dearly and always seek to understand better. Another winning piece of non-fiction from Holley Gerth!

For starters, I think every introvert should read this as should anyone who knows and would like a better understanding of an introvert. It is refreshing to read a book that focuses on the introvert and instead of fixing or changing the individual the focus is on accepting and embracing who you are and moving forward. It is a relatively short read that is helpful, organized (charts - which I love), with relational stories, easy to understand examples, and links to further helps with brief explanations and guidelines. There are many quotations I will save from this book and one that basically summarizes the ❤️ of this book in Holley’s own words (in relation to secondhand happiness but I like it as a summary ☀️😁) “As introverts, we experience a turning point in our well-being when we start being more of who we are. That’s when we learn we’re loved as is, discover the gifts we have to offer, and let go of what holds us back. It’s when we can move toward what’s actually worth pursuing in our lives, which is so much more than secondhand happiness.” (p 98)

We live in a world that can feel overwhelming at times, where it can feel like everything is geared to extroverts - that those who are outgoing and gregarious are valued while those of us who are quieter and less vocal are sometimes overlooked.If you're an introvert who has ever felt like that, this book will provide some encouragement!It explores what it means to be an introvert - delving into the science of how introverts' and extroverts' brains are differently wired and looking at the impact of introversion on different aspects of life.It addresses some of the struggles that introverts commonly have, such as anxiety and depression, but it also looks at the strengths introversion can bring and encourages that us that these are just as valuable as the strengths of an extrovert.Whether you are an introvert, or you are close to an introvert, this book is full of helpful insights. Holley Gerth shares her own and others' experiences and writes in a friendly and relatable way. The book is provides valuable encouragement to introverts to understand ourselves more and to embrace our introversion and be who God made us to be.

This book brings together insights from various fields to affirm we introverts in our leading, living, loving and life. A timely read.

I am really enjoying reading Holly's book The Powerful Purpose of Introverts. I cannot put the book down. I have learned so much about myself: why I do some of the things that I do and why I feel and or think certain ways. I have always felt so tired after being in large groups of people and have needed a couple days to recover. I also prefer to listen to people talking and will speak when I feel I have something to say. I never fully understood why I am like this and Holly talks about this also. Her writing style is so simple to understand and she explains everything for the reader. She includes several charts to help us understand ourselves better and uses some very good examples to explain different concepts. I am actually going to be buying a copy for my daughter who is an introvert like I am. I also have some friends that I know would enjoy reading the boo

I loved this book! I learnt so much about myself and the book really answered a lot of questions I had about why I react to things in a certain way or process information the way that I do. Being an introvert really is a hidden superpower and I don't think I would have felt so proud to say that if it was not for this book. It was so encouraging and engaging. Great to be reminded of how intentional God is when creating us. 10/10