When I was younger I used to be painfully shy. I distinctly remember hiding when new people came over the house and feeling a genuine sense of anxiety and fear. As a teenager, my shyness got so bad that I could not even order a pizza without stumbling over my words and feeling embarrassment. I almost never looked anyone in the eye. Even today I still feel anxious when I meet new people . Over the years I have learned certain coping skills and here is a short list of what has helped me. I realize there is no quick fix but if you take the time to think about each of these and try to apply them in your life it may help. I highlighted the ones that have helped me the most.
- Love yourself
- Have a positive attitude
- Take a genuine interest in other people
- Help others
- Meditate
- Take risks
- Don’t be so hard on yourself
- Be honest with yourself
- Relax
