My own analogy can be more appropriately worded as well:
   Introverts make decisions within themselves.
   Extroverts make decisions outside themselves.
Thus, the conclusion was reached: extroverts are oriented to what's outside of them, while introverts focus inward.

And then it hit me.  Neither of these have any bearing on what's been bothering me.  So I looked to other validated methods for answers.

The "Big Five," the IPIP, had what I was looking for.

"Openness to Experience."

This phrase, separated from Extraversion, can be interpreted two ways.  With Experience as a noun and a verb.

"Openness to Experience (or Experimenting)" is one thing I find extremely important.  From a young age, we were all instructed something along the lines of, "try new foods! You might like them!"  This OtE is completely (or mainly) based on acceptance.  It takes great strength to step out of our "comfort zones" and try something that might bring change.
One of the hardest lessions I've ever learned was this very concept.  It was extremely embarassing and hurtful, and this is one of the reasons OtE is so vital to me.  Why?  Get to the point, Andy?  If you have an Openness to Experience(ing), you have a Willingness to Change.  And I am a firm supporter of change.  A caveman years and years ago had to have said to himself, "You know, it's a risk, but it might be worth it to rub these two sticks together."  And thank God he did - that he left his comfort zone - that he willed change - that he was open to experiencing.

The second translation, "Openness to Experience," is a bit more abstract.  It deals with emotion in its depth and breadth.
We've all seen people that seem like they just "act" at life.  People who really don't feel, or think - that seem more like robots than humans.  They are the people who are closed to Experience, the noun.

No matter how wrong I am on other topics, I will UNFLINCHINGLY and UNFAILINGLY support optimism of any kind, whether tenanted or not.  Although an argument for another day, it slightly plays a role in OtE as well, and it will all come together soon.

People who are OtE don't see life as a movie or television show in which all they have control of is themzselves.  They see it as a three-dimensional, interactive collage in which characters are a their finest when they are sharing with others.  People that are OtE realize that every little thing is precious and is worth interacting with, understanding, and fully experiencing.
The poster in the math room says something along these lines:

SUCCESS IS
getting out of bed every morning and knowing...
   that there's something out there that you love
   that there's something always something to be done
   and it's bigger than you
   and that you can't wait to work on it again.

This is the essence of Openness to Experience.  It is a combination that eventually can be defined as this.

"Openness to Experience is the understanding that life is for LIVING and not just for having, and is the willingness to change yourself to better understand and interact with the world around you."

I think this is a good thing to strive for.  'Nuff said.

Flame away!!!111oneone

(Please, once again, note this is not advice, recommendation, or fiat - this is just how Andy defines something that's important to him.)

XO