Have you ever questioned your mentality?

Question

I am currently 20 years of age and am going into my third year of college. I lived a hermit lifestyle pretty much throughout my entire high school years. After going to college i began to open my mind, explore new ideas and improve my confidence, character, and social skills. But still, even after all this change i still feel that i have the mentality of a 16 year old sometimes. Every person or group of people i have been with have said that i was a very quiet person (I think more than i talk). It seems that i am always at a loss of words wherever i go, even though i feel like i' ve matured, social skill wise. My conversations always seem to go smoothly if i talk on AIM or something similar where i have time to think, which gives me the feeling that i need to be more spontaneous. After countless times of observing groups of people chatting i feel that i am always the person with the least interesting and sophisticated things to say. So back to the original question, have you ever questioned your mentality?

Answer 1

I think everyone does that.  We are all just scared 13 year olds in our brains.  Just relax and be yourself.  You don't have to be like anyone other than yourself.  People love people that are unique.  Famous people are almost always nuts.  

Answer 2

From what I read you're an articulate 20 year old man and wouldn't be surprised if you were of above average intelligence. You just seem to be very introspective (cerebral). It wouldn't surprise me if you're drawn to the arts, or a branch of scientific research.

  The reasons for this vary depending on personality types. But a common cause of your shyness and introspection may be due to the need to cope with the fact that you just know/feel yourself as being  simply different from the "social" norm. You're trying to "fit in" and in the process you're neglecting the real you. The news : that will always make you feel a bit like fish out of water.

The fact might just be that you're actually more aware of things than the average kid your age. Your interests may generally be of a different nature, therefore making getting involved in their common/regular conversation a bit of an "act" for you.

Although it might seem difficult to you right now, and aggravated by the fact that you're right in the middle of dealing with the peer pressures of your age bracket, you should just embrace the real you. In fact, explore it and get to know "you" better. Learn to feel comfortable in your own skin. Your perception of the world is uniquely yours and at times it may even seem odd and not conforming with the status quo... but by no means that makes it questionable or wrong.

Also btw, if you live in your head a lot like it seems, most likely you are of a vivid imagination. Again, that does not necessarily mean you have a 16 year old mentality. ("Imagination is more important than knowledge"  -Albert Einstein)

All I can do is go by what you've shared here. From what I gather, I wouldn't worry at all about your mentality... You're a young guy in your third year of college.. enjoy it ! Lots of very capable and even brilliant people in the sciences and arts were known for being the odd guy out. Enjoy life, enjoy you. Stop worrying.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

Yes, I have.

I'm not sure if you want the people who answer to this question to elaborate, but I'll take the freedom to do so.

I don't think you are abnormal. You are more of a thinker than a talker. Deep inside you feel the need to be much more outgoing.... hmmm... that's pretty much how I was when I was younger. Now, when people ask me a question I just go on and on when I answer.... blablablablabla. That's because I have a lot more to say now. So much more life experience than when I was 20. Relax,... you will eventually change, too. Don't think so much about it. Truly live instead. How? Being open-minded is a good way to start. > Watch and truly see,... listen and truly hear. It's not age that makes you mature. It's life. Life will give you enough material to talk about when you are truly ready to share without holding back. When you lose a loved... that's life happening. When you witness a child being born... a woman giving birth- that's life... Believe me you will get there- at your own pace.

Answer 4

I definetly question my mentality sometimes when I read back some of my journal entries. Coo-Coo.....lol