Some people are shy. Some people are not. Some people are born shy, while others are shy because of things that have happened in their life like being bullied or a lack of confidence. You’re not alone, between 40 and 60 percent of adults reported they are shy. It is not a bad thing, in different cultures, being shy is seen as respectful, polite and thoughtful.
Being shy and suffering with social anxiety can sometimes be the biggest road block when it comes to making new friends, meeting new people, missing out on new opportunities, events and even fully expressing who you are. We know social anxiety and shyness can be really difficult to overcome. Some people don’t feel like they can ever be themselves or only feel relaxed when in a very small group of close friends.
These few tips will help you overcome shyness. If you think your shyness is holding you back, let’s learn how to get past it now and boost your confidence whenever shyness appears.
Don’t let that fear hold you back
Shyness sometimes come about due to a fear of rejection. Rejection is something that we all have faced at some point in our lives. Whether it’s rejection in love, in work or between friends, don’t let that fear hold you back, resilience is key and if at first, you don’t succeed, pick yourself up and try again.
Engage yourself
Overcoming shyness is about coming out of your comfort zone. Even something like answering the phone at work, or knocking next door for a parcel seems like the most daunting thing at the time but with hindsight, you think, ‘well, that was no big deal’. Don’t avoid these social situations, take a deep breath and push yourself a tiny bit each time, you’ll be surprised what you’re capable of and how quickly it becomes easier.
Find out if you’re naturally shy or there’s a reason
Some people are just shier than others and that’s OK. Remember that the world would not work without shy and loud people. And some of the most famous people in history have been naturally shy people. Science shows why some people are naturally more shy and introverted than others, and you can be an extrovert and shy, or an introvert and confident! They’re not exactly the same.
Develop your talent
If you’re good at something like cooking, running, music or makeup – nurture it. It may not be groundbreaking, prodigious talent, but if you channel that nervous energy into an activity, you’ll feel ten times better about yourself when you see it improve.
It also provides a great talking point for conversations when you run out of things to say and things get awkward – we all know that feeling!
Speak to people that can help
It may not feel like you’re the best at talking to people. But have you noticed it’s easier to talk to others when they share a similar experience? It feels completely different talking to somebody at your school or workplace, compared to talking to someone while playing a game. So put yourself in situations where you find these people, and can talk about things you both love. The more you do this, the easier it’ll get. We promise.
If you’re struggling to find a place where people have similar experiences as you, we’ve got an anonymous community that could be perfect. Explore it here.
Develop your confidence
Sometimes, feeling shy can come from a lack of self-esteem and confidence. Developing confidence is different from shyness, but they can be connected. If you want to learn how to build your confidence & self-esteem, you can read this article.
Be around more people
It sounds like it should be wrong, but simply by being around people, will help slowly build up your confidence as you get used to it. You’ll soon find that you trust yourself more to speak up in discussions and learn to relax when around other people.
Final Thought
Don’t let people know that you are shy. Just flow naturally and after practicing these points, you will be able to overcome your shyness. Being a shy person is not a bad thing, so don’t kill yourself because you are one. But then, try your best to learn how to overcome it, so you won’t miss opportunities because you are shy.
