Dear fellow introvert:

Don’t waste energy berating yourself for what you are not, or feeling unworthy because you are “not as ___ as” someone who seems more confident, outgoing, articulate, quick-thinking etc.

Consider instead where you are already strong.

Start recognizing the hidden gems in what you take for granted, such as:

— your innate ability to stop and listen with empathy and compassion,

— your penchant for self-reflection which leads to greater awareness of self and others,

— your love of meaningful conversation and equally meaningful silences, which gives others a chance to rest and reflect.

For everything else, here’s a self-compassion mantra I find helpful —

“When you know better, do better.”