I am a true introvert. For most of my life, I wished I wasn’t. I often compared myself to those who were more outgoing—who bloomed in social situations, while I shriveled up. I’ve tried in the past to appear more extroverted, but it felt so unnatural and unlike me that I didn’t even recognize myself. The fact is, I am an introvert and I’m finally learning to accept that. We are often pressured in society to be extroverted. You have to be the loudest and most talkative in the room in order to be noticed or liked by other people. Well, I’m here to tell you that there is nothing wrong with being reserved and that being an introvert has its own advantages. So, here are some advantages for my fellow introverts.

1. Introverts are observant

We assess social situations by taking in all of the details of our surroundings before taking action.

2. Introverts think before we speak

Because we internalize much of our thoughts, we might “rehearse” in our heads what we want to say. We pick and choose our words wisely to make sure we accurately get our point across and don’t just talk for the sake of talking.

3. Introverts are great listeners

Instead of listening to respond, we listen to understand. Sometimes, people aren’t looking for advice, they just want someone to vent to. Whether it’s a funny story or a personal issue, we are more than willing to simply sit and listen.

4. Introverts value close, personal relationships

We live in a fast-paced world where people want to know who you are and what makes you different right away. For introverts, we aren’t quick to share our inner most thoughts and feelings until we feel comfortable. We like to share personal thoughts with people we feel closest to. If an introvert opens up to you, know that it is a big deal to them because they value the relationship they have with you enough to share how they feel.

5. Introverts have a deep sense of self

Introverts enjoy solitude. This doesn’t mean we are anti-social. It just means that we like spending time with ourselves and this isn’t a bad thing. Because we enjoy spending time alone we are more likely to self-reflect and are in tune with our thoughts as well as who we are as individuals.

The next time you come across an introvert, it is important to keep this list in mind.

You might even discover, with a little time, we’re worth getting to know.