Tips On Overcoming Shyness

Whadd'Up Bossies

We all get shy from time to time, but if your shyness is hurting your relationships and keeping you from making new friends, you owe it to yourself to work on overcoming it. These 4 tips for overcoming shyness are a good way to start.

1. Get to Like Yourself

You can't be comfortable around other people unless you're comfy around yourself first. Focus on the people and things that make you feel good - like your friends, your family and your favorite hobbies. Don't have any hobbies?  Get some.  Spend your free time doing stuff that makes you happy.

2. Be Friendly

Shy people tend not to smile or make eye contact with other people. It might lead to people thinking you aren't interested in talking to them, or that you have an attitude. Snap out of it. When you're talking to someone, remind yourself to look at them, to smile, to stay involved in the conversation. Straightening your posture helps, too.  Pretty soon this stuff will come naturally to you, but you have to practice.

3. Take Chances

Ask more questions. Take up an offer to go somewhere you've never been. Pay a stranger a compliment. Try stuff out, even if it makes you nervous. Being shy has a lot to do with being scared. If you start facing your fear, you'll learn to get over it.

4. Be Patient

Keep repeating steps 1, 2 and 3, as many times as you need to, for the rest of your life. Overcoming shyness is a long process. It could be years before you grow out of it, and even then, you won't be the bubbly cheerleader-type that you picture as the opposite of shy.  You'll just be, well, you, but a more confident, comfortable you than you've ever been.

I hope this helps for overcome your shyness, xo.