I'm here today trying to be something I'm not.

我今天在這裡， 試著成為一個不是原本的自己。

Which is something I've been trying to do for two years now:

我花了兩年，試著去做這件事：

write a TED Talk, share my ideas,

寫一篇 TED Talk 的講稿 分享我的想法，

talk in front of such a large group of people.

在這樣一大群人們面前演講。

I know a lot of you are probably thinking, "She sounds a bit shy."

我知道許多在場的各位可能心想： 「她似乎有點害羞。」

Or maybe, "She probably gets nervous easily."

或者，「她大概很容易緊張吧！」

Yeah, all those things are 100% true, but why?

沒錯，這些完全正確。 但是，為什麼呢？

To answer simply, I am an introvert.

簡單來說，我是內向者。

So what is an introvert?

內向者什麼意思呢?

An introvert is a quiet person that doesn't like to talk very much

內向者指的是一個安靜、不愛講話，

and likes to keep their thoughts mostly to themselves.

並把大部分想法藏在心裡的人。

They're the kind of person that goes home just to relax and have time to think.

他們是那種回到家 就是要放鬆和思考的人。

But that's not to say that an outgoing person can't be an introvert.

但這並不代表一個外向的人 不能是內向者。

Just as long as they enjoy the quiet time to get to themselves,

只要他們享受寧靜的時光並面對自己，

they're most likely an introvert to a certain extent.

他們也算是某種程度的內向者。

So the main thing I want to address in this talk

在這次演講，我最主要想談的是，

is that there's nothing wrong with being an introvert.

身為一位內向者沒有任何不對。

However society doesn't see it in the same lighting.

然而，這個社會並不這麼認為。

Society has taught us that being an introvert is the worst thing you can be

人們告訴我們， 當一個內向者是你最糟的選項，

and that everyone should want to be extroverted.

大家理所當然地想成為外向者。

We're told that being outgoing is good and being shy and quiet is bad.

我們如此被教育： 「外向是好事，害羞和安靜是壞事。」

We're told in elementary school we have to raise our hands,

在小學裡，老師總是告訴我們必須舉手、

participate in class or we lose marks.

參與課程，不然我們會被扣分。

Every year at parent-teacher interviews, my parents would hear the same thing,

每年家長會時， 我的父母總是聽會到一樣的話：

"Your daughter is very shy, she needs to learn to speak up more."

「你們的女兒非常害羞， 她需要學習如何大膽說話。」

I was told to share my voice whenever possible.

大家告訴我要盡可能分享我的想法。

As an introvert, those are some very hard standards to achieve.

身為一個內向者， 那是很難達成的目標，

This is why I joined the TED Ed Club two years ago -

這也是為什麼兩年前， 我加入了 TED Ed Club，

to prove to not only myself but to everyone that I wasn't shy.

為了向自己和所有人 證明我不是害羞的。

I could write a talk just like everyone else is doing it.

我可以發表演講，就像所有人一樣。

No big deal.

沒什麼大不了的。

Slight problem, I never wrote a talk.

只有一個小問題，我沒有寫過演講稿。

I couldn't come up with a topic I was truly passionate about

我想不到一個讓我想要分享給全世界、

that I felt like I wanted to share with the world.

一個我真正有興趣的主題。

I would show up to every meeting

我出席了每一場會議，

and watch my peers continue to develop their talks

看我的同學、朋友們準備他們的演說，

and I would get frustrated with myself.

而我只能對自己感到挫折。

Why could they share their ideas so easily and I couldn't even come up with a topic?

為什麼他們那麼輕易地分享自己的意見，而我卻連個主題都想不出來呢？

Now, looking back, I realize I have passions,

如今，回頭想想， 我了解到我也有熱情，

I have views on the world and I have opinions.

也有對世界的觀點、有自己的想法。

I just didn't want to share any of them because I'm an introvert.

我只是不想分享，因為我是個內向者。

But is there anything wrong with that?

但這有什麼不對嗎?

Statistics say that 50% of the American population is made up of introverts.

統計顯示 50% 的美國人是內向者。

So society is telling 50% of Americans - about 160 million people -

所以，這個社會在告訴 50% 的美國人──大約 1.6 億人──

that they need to change who they are

他們需要改變他們的樣貌，

to be accepted, to be successful and to be happy.

才能融入社會，才能成功和快樂。

Keep in mind,

別忘了，

within this large group of introverts are people such as:

這個龐大的內向者族群內包括

Elton John, Emma Watson, Michael Jordan, Audrey Hepburn, Albert Einstein,

艾爾頓．約翰、艾瑪．華森、麥可．喬登、奧黛麗．赫本、愛因斯坦，

and so many more incredible, inspiring people.

以及更多不可思議、鼓舞人的人們。

Do you think being an introvert has ever stopped any of them

你認為身為內向者曾阻礙他們

from achieving their goals or being happy?

達成目標或變得快樂嗎?

No.

不。

A lot of you have probably been told something along the lines

你們可能曾聽過類似的話：

of why be a follower when you can be a leader.

「若能成為領導者，為什麼要做跟隨者呢？」

But what about every leader needs a follower?

但有人曾想過嗎？ 每位領導者都需要追隨者。

Let's look at Mr. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada.

看看加拿大的總理 賈斯汀．杜魯道先生，

Do you think he'd be where he is today without the support of the people?

你想，若沒有支持他的群眾們， 他能有今天的成就嗎?

If everyone was trying to be a leader no one would truly succeed

如果每個人都想成為領袖， 沒有人能真正成功，

as it's the followers that define a true leader.

因為是跟隨者成就了真正的領導者。

But that's not to say that an introvert can't be a leader.

但這也不代表內向者不能成為領導人。

Let's look at Abraham Lincoln, Rosa Parks and Gandhi.

看看林肯、羅莎．帕克絲及甘地，

All incredible inspirational leaders and all introverts.

都是不可思議、發人深省的領導人， 而且他們都是內向者。

In a business setting,

在商場上，

the CEO of a company will look at an introvert and say,

公司的執行長會看著內向者說：

"If they're not going to share their ideas they are useless to me."

「如果他們不分享他們的想法， 那他們對我來說是毫無用處。」

Well, guess what?

你猜怎麼著？

These companies are missing out.

這些公司損失可大了！

Introverts are known to be versatile, responsible,

內向者是公認多才多藝、負責任的人，

work well in small groups and individually.

他們在小組裡和個別的表現良好。

So being an introvert has no effect on how happy

所以，身為一位內向者跟快樂

or how successful you are going to be

或成功的程度毫不相關，

as long as you see it in the right lighting.

只要你以正確的角度去看待「內向」。

If you see yourself as an introvert

如果你是位內向者，

and think it's the worst thing in the world,

並把這件事當作是世界上最糟的一件事，

you're never going to be truly happy with yourself

你永遠不會真正對自己滿意，

and you're going to constantly try to change to conform to society.

而且你會不斷嘗試 改變自己來融入社會。

But if you accept yourself as an introvert and you're happy,

但若你接受自己是位內向者的事實， 並對此感到開心，

there's nothing in the way

沒有什麼能阻擋你

of you achieving your goals and getting what you want.

去追尋你的目標或得到你想要的。

All in all, there is absolutely nothing wrong with being an introvert.

總括來說，身為內向者 完全沒有問題。

No matter what society may say,

無論社會大眾怎麼說，

you don't need to change who you are because being an introvert is great.

你都不用改變你自己， 因為當一位內向者是件好事。

Before I leave, I want to end with a quote from the book "Quiet,

在結束前，我想以《安靜》

The power of introverts in a world that can't stop talking"

「安靜，就是力量：內向者 如何發揮積極的力量！」

by Susan Cain.

藉由蘇珊．坎恩

"The secret to life is to put yourself in the right lighting.

「人生的秘密在於 把自己放在適合的燈光下。」

For some, it's a Broadway spotlight; for others, it's a lamplit desk."

有些人適合百老匯的聚光燈，另一些人則適合小檯燈。」

So the next time you see that quiet kid in the back of the class

下次當你看到那個安靜坐在教室面，

who doesn't participate very much,

沒有積極參與的孩子，

I want you to think,

我希望你這樣想：

"I wonder what great things they're going to come up with next."

“我想知道他們接下來會想出什麼偉大的事情。”

Thank you.

謝謝

(Applause)

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