How To Overcome Shyness – 12 Ways To Make More Friends
Want to know how to overcome shyness? Here are the best 12 strategies that shy people can use to make more friends.
Let’s chat about how to overcome shyness.
If you are naturally shy, I promise you are not alone. Many people struggle to make new friends in this world, but it can obviously be more challenging for those that are shy.
However, where there’s a will, there’s a way.
Here’s the thing: even the shyest of people can have a healthy social circle.
Shyness can be a challenge in all social situations, but guess what?
All of life’s challenges can be overcome or we can find a workaround for it.
Even if you’re shy, you can still make friends without giving yourself a heart attack in the process.
I wish, as well as everybody else, to be perfectly happy; but like everybody else, it must be in my own way. Jane Austen
I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion. Henry David Thoreau
Extroverts sparkle, introverts glow. Extroverts are fireworks, introverts are a fire in the hearth. Sophia Dembling
When I was young, all I wanted and expected from life was to sit quietly in some corner doing my work without the public paying attention to me. And now see what has become of me. Albert Einstein
Try these 12 tips to make new friends:
HOW TO OVERCOME SHYNESS
TIP # 1 – Put your focus on others.
You can only be shy if you’re thinking about yourself.
If you put all of your attention on the other person, your shyness will evaporate.
Trust me, it works!
HOW TO OVERCOME SHYNESS
TIP # 2 – Leverage the friends you already have.
Instead of meeting complete strangers, spend more time chatting with people you already know.
Your friends might have some friends that you might like.
This can be psychologically easier than meeting new people.
HOW TO OVERCOME SHYNESS
TIP # 3 – Ask questions.
With this tip, you can avoid worrying about what to say during a conversation.
With a few good questions, you won’t have to say much.
Just ask an open-ended question and give the other person your attention.
HOW TO OVERCOME SHYNESS
TIP # 4 – Be more approachable.
Smile and say, “Hi.”
Make it easy for others to approach you.
People are often just as nervous as you are to strike up a conversation.
HOW TO OVERCOME SHYNESS
TIP # 5 – Have a conversation plan.
Have a few good stories and conversation topics ready to go at a moment’s notice.
You’ll feel more confident and willing to talk to others.
HOW TO OVERCOME SHYNESS
TIP # 6 – Use compliments.
Everyone loves a compliment.
It’s a great way to start a positive interaction.
HOW TO OVERCOME SHYNESS
TIP # 7 – Practice talking to others.
The more practice you get, the more comfortable you’ll feel.
You can keep it short.
Just say hi to someone and ask a simple question, such as:
- Where did you get those shoes?
- Can you believe this weather?
HOW TO OVERCOME SHYNESS
TIP # 8 – Build your self-confidence.
Find a book on self-confidence and put the ideas into action.
There are so many great resources out there to help overcome shyness and a lack of confidence.
Remember a lack of self-confidence can contribute to shyness.
HOW TO OVERCOME SHYNESS
TIP # 9 – Maintain the friendships you have.
If you can keep the friends you already have, you won’t need to make as many new friends.
Keeping friends can be challenging, so be willing to put in the necessary work.
HOW TO OVERCOME SHYNESS
TIP # 10 – Get out of the house.
Miracles do happen, but it’s unlikely that someone is going to knock on your door and beg to be your friend.
The people you need to meet are outside of your home.
Get out in the world and meet a few of them.
HOW TO OVERCOME SHYNESS
TIP # 11 – Accept invitations.
Avoid turning down any social invitations.
Go to weddings, parties, and barbecues.
Be social!
HOW TO OVERCOME SHYNESS
TIP # 12 – Be realistic.
It can be intimidating if you believe that you need to find 20 friends or to be the most popular person you know.
But the truth is many shy people are completely happy with a few good friends.
More than that would be overwhelming for them.
So try to have a realistic plan for your social life that meets your needs (and not the needs of others).
In the end, everyone can make friends if suitably motivated.
Even though shy people can find themselves with a small social circle, it’s still possible to add a couple of friends to your life without too much trouble.
Be sure to accept any opportunities to socialize.
Be approachable.
Ask questions.
Smile.
These are just a few basic strategies that pay off in a big way over time.
So set yourself a goal of making a new friend this month and do your best to achieve it.
I encourage you to step outside your comfort zone (but only if that’s what you want to do!) because it is indeed possible to make new friends if you are open to it.
Everyone shines, given the right lighting. Susan Cain
Silence is only frightening to people who are compulsively verbalizing. William S. Boroughs
Live your life the way you want, not the way society tells you. Maxime Lagacé
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I’m Frances Vidakovic – a mindset & action coach for quietly ambitious women who want to stop overthinking and finally take aligned action. I help women achieve their goals and follow through on what matters, without sacrificing their sanity or soul.