EXTERNAL processors are people that often think and talk everything out loud with others listening and supporting as they do so. In order to understand how they feel about something, they prefer to talk it out with someone else. INTERNAL processors process their feelings and thoughts internally first before expressing them out loud. They are more likely to turn inward to get clarity, rather than outward to the people in their life.
Neither way is right or wrong... just different. Keith and Alex are both EXTERNAL processors. They talk A LOT! Alex Harmon just finished his freshman year of college and, although he didn't come home often, he called me about 4-5 times a day. To talk. About nothing. So.Many.Words. Over the years, I've just learned to appreciate the way his brain is wired and decided if he is going to invite me to listen to every thought he has, then I will use that information to know how to pray for him and guide him.
Well, Alex moved out of the dorm and back home for the summer, which means, LOTS AND LOTS OF WORDS!!! He literally wakes up in mid conversation and is content to follow me around the house talking about, well, EVERYTHING. I didn't think about how the extra talking would affect Miles or if he even noticed a difference... until yesterday. I came upstairs and walked into the living room where Miles was sitting. Alex was following me and talking, as usual. Miles, with two iPads going and wearing noise cancelling headphones, looked up at Alex and said, “TURN MOUTH OFF.” Simple. Direct. And to the point.
