Being extremely shy, nervous, or introverted are very common for a lot of different people. It does not mean that you necessarily “don’t like” people, it is more along the lines of someone not knowing how to behave or fit in around others.
There are a mix variety of reasons for why a person has these fears or anxieties, and not addressing them could hinder their life in several different ways. If you are looking for a way to burst out of your shell and get ahead in life, learning to be more comfortable around people is a great place to start.
First Things First: Educate Yourself
Fear is often brought on by the unknown or through negative past experiences. The first order of business to being more comfortable around people is to first educate yourself on why you’re shy or introverted to begin with.
For instance, there are some people that have a fear of public speaking because they messed up on a speech really bad in the past and don’t want to experience that embarrassment again. There are other people who don’t like being in social settings because they fear they will be judged or outcast for being different.
Once you know what your triggers are for fear you can begin developing plans to get past that.
Talk to Everyone
The next order of business is to socialize as much as you can. Once you’ve identified your fears and anxiety, the only way to get over them is to push through them. Being comfortable around a person or group of people requires conversation which is why this is one of the best steps to start with.
Make a vow that every person that crosses your path you will make an effort to speak to them. It doesn’t have to be a long drawn out conversation, something as simple as “hello, how is your day going” will do the trick.
Practice Makes Perfect
Now this last tip might be a bit challenging but it is very much important if you want to remain comfortable around people. You are going to need to practice by building yourself up to what you’re afraid of.
For instance, those who have fears of public speaking will need to begin doing small speeches at small events and working their way up until they feel more confident. Those who have fears of approaching love interests will need to begin approaching the opposite sex more often despite how many rejections you might get along the way.
When you combine all three of these steps together you can work better towards knocking down your barriers, discovering your real fears, and getting more comfortable in interacting with people on the day to day basis.
For those who are having tremendous fears or need more urgent help, consulting with a therapist or self help blogs might be an ideal solution to get you back on the right path.
Remember, even though no one likes to make mistakes, while learning to interact with others there will be roadblocks along the way. As long as you’re able to dust yourself off and try again, you are one step closer to erasing the fear.
