10 Reasons Why Introverts Make the Best Friends
Introverts make the best friends. In an article about reasons why people should be proud to be introverts, Psychology Today notes that introverts tend to be more observant and empathetic toward others.
Contrary to bad media portrayals that paint introverts as lonely recluses, they are often caring and empathetic friends. Although they need alone time to recharge, they thrive in caring friendships where they can be their truest selves.
The following are ten amazing reasons why introverts make the best friends.
1. Introverts enjoy deep, emotionally intimate friendships.
Introverts don’t like large crowds, but they love time to have deep conversations with a close friend or two. While they may be hard to know sometimes, once you’ve gotten close to an introvert, you’ll get the plunge into the depths of their minds and their hearts.
They usually have one or two very close friends instead of a lot of shallow friendships. That means they will not only know your name, but they’ll learn all about your likes and dislikes.
They’ll carefully listen to you as you talk, noting the things that motivate you and the things that make you mad. Sometimes their care and attention will make it seem like they know you better than you even know yourself.
When you’re friends with an introvert, you’ll see just how much time and energy they’re willing to invest in the friendships that mean the most to them. Even though they need time alone to recharge, they will invest their time and energy if it nurtures your bond.
2. Introverts are great at keeping your secrets.
You can trust introverts with your secrets because they understand the importance of keeping your intimate details safe.
Since they rarely think without speaking, they’re less likely to blurt your secrets out in the heat of the moment or pass them along as a juicy tidbit of gossip.
A lot of this is because they don’t talk much, but their caution surrounding your secrets has more to do with their care for you than their isolation from others. Since they know how hard it is when others violate their personal boundaries, they’re intentional in their efforts to respect the boundaries of others.
3. Introverts are empathetic and will respect your opinions.
Introverts spend a lot of time considering the emotions and motivations of themselves and others.
Since they carefully observe the world around them, they are often good at putting themselves in the shoes of their friends.
This empathy makes them great support systems. Even when they don’t feel the same way, they’re good at understanding the perspectives of others.
Their sensitivity prevents them from saying things that invalidate your feelings or leave you feeling unnecessarily hurt.
4. Introverts are great listeners.
Not only are they great at empathizing with you, but they’re excellent at listening to their loved ones. They’re content to sit and listen to every word you say.
If you’ve ever watched two extroverts talk, you’ve probably noticed it looks a little more like a wrestling match than a real conversation. On the contrary, introverts mindfully listen while others talk, responding in ways that demonstrate that they’re paying attention to what the other person is saying.
When introverts do talk, it’s important to listen. In most cases, the things they contribute are valuable insights to help you feel validated and empowered. That naturally leads us to item number five on our list below.
5. Introverts give the best advice.
Introverts are great listeners and perceptive observers. That means that they’re uniquely equipped to give you valuable advice. When an introvert gives you a piece of advice, you can trust that they’ve thought about what they’re saying and how that advice could play out.
Since your introverted friends probably know you better than anyone else, they can also give advice that fits your personality and situation.
For example, an introvert might provide great advice about how to handle a relationship issue because they know what you need, care about your happiness, and have had the opportunity to observe the relationship and evaluate its strengths and weaknesses.
6. Introverts are very loyal friends.
Introverts take a lot of time to grow close with others. Once they form close relationships, they are unlikely to give up on those friendships in the face of conflict. Since introverts have to use energy for social interactions, they see the time they’ve spent on a friendship as a serious investment of their time and emotional energy.
Because of this, introverts tend to be loyal friends over the course of their lifetime. You don’t have to worry about introverts waking up one day and deciding not to be your friend. They won’t be spilling your secrets to the world or turning their back on you.
Introverts value loyalty, so it’s natural that they’d work to become loyal friends themselves. When you invest in a friendship with an introvert, you’ll enjoy the rich benefits of that relationship. That includes their fierce, undying loyalty.
7. Introverts are pros at relaxation.
If you want a friend to hang out with for a cozy night in, look no further than the introvert you love! Introverts are pros when it comes to relaxing and spending a quiet evening at home. Since most of their hobbies revolve around spending time alone, they know all the best ways to spend an evening unwinding at home.
They know what movies you’ll love and which TV shows are worth binging. While some friends might push you to go out, introverts will jump at the chance to spend a quiet night at home on the couch, watching a movie.
Chances are your introverted friend also has a fun and creative hobby they’d be thrilled to share with you. If your introverted friend knows how to knit or crochet, you better believe they’ll jump at the chance to share that passion with you!
They’re often a treasure trove of inspiration if you want to get into a new, quiet hobby.
8. Introverts know how to have fun.
Although introverts don’t usually like big crowds, they know how to have fun during a night out. If you make time to plan ahead, they’ll often research all your options and share the great reviews from a new hot spot in town.
Best of all, they’ll make recommendations based on what you want instead of their own personal preferences. If they know you like burgers, they’re more likely to recommend a favorite burger joint than the local Mexican restaurant.
This is a great attribute, but it’s important for extroverts to be cautious about taking advantage of introverts’ selflessness. Make sure you’re making space for them to share the things they love, too.
If you go to a party or a club with your introverted friend, they’ll likely take the opportunity to have fun. Just be aware that they may need significant time to recharge afterward.
9. Introverts are independent, providing extroverts with a great life lesson.
Extroverts feel energized by social interaction. Some extroverts are so motivated by an interpersonal connection that they cannot stand to spend time alone. On the other hand, introverts thrive during their time spent alone. This is a great life lesson to extroverts, especially those who need to learn to enjoy their own company.
Solitude has a whole host of benefits that extroverts often miss out on because they just don’t know how to be alone.
According to an article by VeryWell Mind, solitude increases productivity, boosts creativity, strengthens your empathy, and provides other great benefits. If you aren’t sure how to manage your alone time, your introverted friend would gladly provide you with the guidance you need.
Introverts could be perfectly happy spending an entire day (or even an entire week) alone. They thrive when they have plenty of time to process their thoughts and enjoy their hobbies.
If you have an introverted friend, you probably know just how independent they can be. This independence offers a shining example to extroverts.
10. Introverts will make time to help when you need them.
Even though introverts need their alone time, they’ll always be there to help when you need them. Because they form deep emotional connections with their loved ones, they are emotionally invested when their loved ones need help.
Introverts also don’t spread themselves too thin when it comes to managing friendships. In fact, most research shows that people only really have the time to manage about five close friendships. For introverts, this number may be even lower since they want to give their best to those they care about.
Since your introverted friend is less likely to overextend themselves or pack their social calendar, they’re more likely to be available when you need them. This makes them stable and reliable friends you’ll value for the rest of your life.