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Introverts often love playing with words (one of the reasons I wrote my first book) So I was quite happy to discover the work of Catalina Pancos, an art therapist from Romania. Under the umbrella of Words for Introverts she shares designs especially made for introverts. I decided to ask her a few questions.
Please tell us: who's the person behind Words for Introverts?
I'm Catalina and I'm from Romania, Eastern Europe. I'm a quiet human with a big heart and child-like curiosity.
Are you an introvert as well? And if so, when did you discover that?
Yes, I'm definitely an introvert. More specifically, I'm an INFP-T according to the MBTI personality test. I've always known I was introverted, but I didn't have a name for it until I read "Quiet—The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking" by Susan Cain several years ago. I've read other books related to introversion since then, but "Quiet" will remain my favourite. It helped me understand my nature, and more importantly, it showed me that it was perfectly normal to be... my true self.
How did you come up with the idea for Words for Introverts?
Honestly, it wasn't the first name I came up with. My online journey started with a blog called "Soul Online". I didn't know what I wanted to write about at first, but I knew it had to come from my soul. It didn't take me long to realize it was a terrible name choice since people were finding my blog when they were trying to do... let's call them spiritual transactions, haha!
In time, it became clearer I wanted to reach fellow introverts. I wanted them to know there's so much power in being introspective, being a great listener, and being able to work on your own.
What do you want to achieve with Words for Introverts?
I've felt alone in my way of thinking/feeling/being for a long time. Through Words for Introverts, I hope to connect, inspire and empower people before they go through what I've been through.
What inspires you when making new designs?
I usually sit down, relax, listen to music and enjoy a cup of coffee and let the words come to me. Many things inspire me when I create. It could be things I haven't said. Things I felt and was ashamed of. Things that made me think I was too much or not enough. No matter what I make, I like keeping it real.
When it comes to design, I studied graphic design for 6 months on my own and I bet some inspiration comes from there. I also spend a lot of time on Pinterest, Instagram, Skillshare, Dribble, Behance, Awwwards—you name it.
What kind of reactions do you get from people?
Oh, incredible reactions! It's such a heart-warming feeling when someone says they found THE words they needed to hear on my profile. I get a lot of lovely messages from people who encourage me to keep going and tell me they appreciate what I make. It's very hard to put that feeling into words. It's something that I wish every person would experience in this life 'cause we all have something meaningful to offer.
What can we expect from you in the future?
It's hard for me to make exact predictions since my way of creating is strongly influenced by my inner world and I don't have a list of specific steps to take.
I'll mostly stay the same, but my content will evolve. Therefore, you should expect soulfulness and novelty.
Catalina decided to share some of her work with readers of this blog. You can download her Christmas card for introverts here and her Introvert Planner here.
