If you fold like an orgami swan at the idea of making a birthday toast in front of a group of people or going to a party by yourself, then you might like self-improvement blog Dumb Little Man’s tips for overcoming shyness.
Photo by a God’s Child.
Everyone (well, almost everyone) gets overcome with shyness at some point — and there’s nothing wrong with that. If you’re looking for ways to get past your shyness or find that it’s interfering with your life, blogger Mark Harrison has a few ideas for you to try.
One suggestion: Pick something that makes you just a little uncomfortable, then get out there and just do it. No one’s suggesting you try karaoke if you’ve never sung a note in public before. Instead, start small, and build your confidence when you succeed. Ask a question from the audience during your next company presentation, or vow to say hi to two new people at the next party you attend. It’s OK to be nervous — baby steps.
Harrison also recommends not taking yourself too seriously in situations that make you shy:
Shy people often take things far too seriously. So what if you make a mistake, if your voice trembles, if you forget your lines? So what if nobody laughs at your jokes? Is it going to kill you? I doubt it. Lighten up and keep things in perspective.
That’s a great point. Remember the last time you listened to someone sing the National Anthem at a sporting event? Chances are, the singer missed a note or flubbed something they wished they hadn’t. Chances are also very good that you didn’t notice, or, if you did, the mistake barely registered with you. The takeaway message is this: Stumbling over your words makes you human and others probably won’t even notice, so don’t sweat it.
Check out the rest of the post for more good tips for overcoming shyness, then share what’s worked for you in the comments.
How to Finally Overcome Shyness [Dumb Little Man]
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