Interesting topic! (Mapapahaba ako)
But let's touch first what introversion and extroversion are, parang the personality development you focused on, yun yung gist (correct me if I'm wrong).
Based on psych researches and literature, introversion and extroversion are biological traits. There was even a saliva test/experiment done to distinguish extros from intros (forgot the details na). Pero, may factor pa rin naman ang nurture or environment in developing one's personality with regards to intro/extroversion.
One also has to take into consideration how these traits are being defined. It's not about being talkative, social butterfly, or timid, which are common notions about the two. Rather, it's more about getting and expending energy. For instance, when stressed introverts tend to recharge alone, or with small group of trusted friends, they are more in touch to their inner world. Extraverts on the other hand, enjoy more and new people etc. That said, medyo mahirap baguhin kung ano ka. Siguro you can adapt base on your current situation, pero kung totally babaguhin mo, nakaka-stress.
Anyway, I'm an introvert too. Nagkaroon ako ng pressure to be talkative due to my MIL, siguro to win her approval nung first few years - maging makwento sa mga amigas nya, sa mga kamag-anak nya, etc. Pero parang nakakaramdam ako ng stress, until I read Susan Cain's Quiet. Reading it empowered me to be quiet again.
My mom is a very talkative person and she appreciates me being quiet. Yung stage lang na yun (re MIL) ako naging conscious sa quietness ko. Ngayon okay na ulit ako. My daughter is a talkative introvert, she gets pressured din to be talkative sa mga amigas ng lola nya, and I tell her it's okay if you don't feel like talking to them. I teach her about introversion din para di sya ma-pressure living in an extroverted world.
Like what I mentioned about talkative introvert daughter, may mga introverts na madadaldal, madaldal sa mga taong kumportable sila. Unlike karamihan ng extros, kung sinu-sino kinakausap.
Thankfully, wala naman ako naging challenge growing up as an introvert. But as a listener-introvert, I tend to attract talkative people, hehe. I don't mind, mas gusto ko makinig, and throw some personal sharings here and there.
Challenging for an introvert to grow up in an extroverted environment. Kasi kung kakaiba ka sa kanila, parang may mali sayo, and you'd feel like you have to be like them or someone you're not. Unnecessary stress and pressure.
But learn to be empowered to be who and what you really are. There will be personalities who will be attracted to your personality. Eventually, you will find your tribe without effort of appearing an extrovert. Kailangan lang siguro ng welcoming aura, like leaving your door open so anyone who would want to come in, can come in. For me, when it comes to forming relationships/friendships, parang marketing lang, I don't do push marketing, instead I do pull marketing, I attract. Kung meron, meron. Kung wala, wala.
