And that's the cool thing about your personality — it really can evolve. "Many experts used to believe that your personality was 'set' by the time you were a certain age, usually somewhere around 25. This is due to the fact that the brain is very 'plastic,' or changeable, as a child and teen, but fairly 'set' as an adult," certified counselor Jonathan Bennett tells Bustle. "However, recent research has shown that your brain can be rewired at any age and that includes changing your personality."

That's good news if you aren't too fond of a certain trait, or if you'd like to work on something that's holding you back. But changes will likely happen anyway, whether you're aware of it or not. "As you gain life experience, it’s normal to adapt your personality, using your newfound wisdom to make smarter decisions and avoid previous mistakes," Bennett says. Read on for some changes you can expect to see, and others you can intentionally make, as you get older.

1. You'll Stop Caring As Much

As you get older, you'll likely start caring less. And I mean that in a totally good way. "You stop worrying as much about what others think and focus more on what is important to you, whether it be your career, family, or health," You also will (sometimes with a bit of work) become less self-conscious.

2. You Might Become More Introverted

Many people become more introverted as time goes on, either because they really were that way all along, and have finally accepted it. Or because they've finally stopped placing other people before themselves. "In our teens and 20s, we are all about socialization,"  "As we get older it's not uncommon to want to stay in and relax."

3. You'll Adopt A Set Of Core Values

While you likely had values since day one, they will only become more ingrained as time goes on. "We learn what is important to us in our lives and tend to make changes based on this," And that's great news. "Staying the same and not growing is actually unhealthy. Changing and reprioritizing is a good thing!"

4. You'll Be Able To Handle Your "Annoying" Traits

Some "annoying" traits, like perfectionism, can be held in check as you get older. You might have spend the early part of your life hyper-focused on making things perfect. But as you get older, it'll be possible to apply traits like these only when it counts.

5. You Will Gain A Healthier Perspective

When you're young, it's normal to be bothered by little things that, as an adult, suddenly feel so much less dramatic. "As you age, you typically gain a broader, more mature perspective about life," "You begin to realize that you don’t have the time and energy for small, petty matters. You also are better at prioritizing what is worth your attention and what is best to let go."

6. You'll Have A Greater Sense Of Confidence

If your confidence wasn't too great as a kid, expect it to boost a bit as the years go by. "Greater confidence typically comes with age," "The longer you spend on the planet, the more you realize that you have one life to live and you should embrace your own convictions in a confident way."

7. You'll No Longer Give AF About Popularity

We all want to be liked. But that intense desire to be popular and perfect? It really does lessen with age. "It’s normal to not care as much about going with the crowd," "You aren’t as knowledgeable about trendy, popular matters, but you become surprisingly OK about it!"

8. You'll Find Yourself "Settling" More Often

I'm all for keeping goals alive throughout your life. But don't be surprised if you find yourself taking a more relaxed approach to achieving them. "Many people with a dynamic personality and big dreams settle as they get older," "They might have less energy to be the 'life of party' and pursue their big dreams." Or they may simply feel more relaxed, and therefore better able to go with the flow of life.

9. Your "Weird" Personality Traits Will Become More Exaggerated

Whatever strange personality traits you were known for as a kid, watch in amazement as they become even more pronounced with time. "This isn't because we are necessarily changing overnight, but it's because the older we get, the more comfortable we grow with ourselves," "We don't conceal ourselves from each other nearly as much as we did when we were insecure in our teens or 20s. We allow others to get to know us way more easily because we don't fear judgment like we used to. So our personality blossoms into something more tangible and pronounced."

10. Your Preferences Will Stay The Same

I'm sure you've heard of the Myers Briggs personality test. (If not, learn more about it here.) Well, if you took the test ten years ago, and then again today, your results would likely be the same. "This is because, while our personality can easily change, our preferences usually don't," "However, our percentage of preference can change. For instance, if you were an extreme introvert as a child, you're probably still an introvert now, but you might fall closer to the extroverted side of the spectrum thanks to school and jobs that have forced you to interact with others.