Shy and Powerful

Have you always been told you are shy and quiet? Do you have a small group of close friends, rather than dozens of acquaintances? You are an introvert. Although you may not realise it - this is a great quality! Modern society idolises loud-shouting extroverts as the people who succeed. But introverts, who are the listeners and learners in life, are actually much better placed for lasting success and personal happiness. So don't be ashamed of being an introvert. Instead celebrate and develop your natural strengths and you'll always come out ahead.

1) You are a Thinker

You live in your head, which mean you have a vivid imagination and have the capacity to devise really creative solutions. Rather than rushing into rash action, you think and ponder over an issue to find the best solution at your own pace. You feel comfortable taking the time to find an answer that suits everybody. This puts you ahead of extroverts, who usually feel uncomfortable with time spent in quiet reflection rather than action.

2) You are a Listener

Your friends know you as the best listener around, meaning people often ask you for advice. You have a reputation for offering wise words. You always think before you speak as you realise that words can be hurtful if they are not chosen carefully. You don't feel the need to fill a silence with meaningless babble. You are comfortable with silence. This is a quality extroverts would do well to learn from you. So when you do speak, people want to listen to you as they know you're going to say something interesting and worthwhile.

3) You are Genuine

Never be ashamed of being who you are because other people value your genuine personality. With an introvert there is no bluster or pretence. What you see is what you get. Introverts do not hide behind endless chatter or loud personalities. You speak to people without affectations. You are a genuine person.

4) You are confident

One of the biggest misconceptions that extroverts have about introverts is that they are not confident people. Actually the opposite is true. Many extroverts are using a loud and boisterous personality to cover feelings of personal inadequacy. Whereas introverts don't need to shout and scream for attention because they are quietly confident in their own skin. So don't try and compete with the extroverts, just be yourself and your natural intelligence and self assured attitude will shine through for all to see.

5) You bring Balance to social situations

Imagine if the world was full of extroverts - nothing would get done because nobody would be listening to each other! Like yin and yang, extroverts and introverts and each halves of the same coin with both equally valuable and necessary to the world. Quiet, thoughtful personalities are needed to provide a balance to your more outgoing friends. An extrovert might have a bright idea but you can hone this idea and make it into a workable solution.

6) You know Silence is Powerful

You are not afraid of silence - this make extroverts uncomfortable because they are afraid of silence. But there's a reason why silence is often a feature of spiritual retreats or practices. It's because spiritual thinking recognises the healing and transformative power of silence. If your world is full of mindless chatter, you have no headspace to think about the deeper issues of life - such as how to improve your personal qualities or deepen your spirituality. So don't feel guilty for wanting to have quiet time away from other people - feel proud because you recognise the power of silence.