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Shyness is a common complaint, especially among school-age children. However, adults can also be shy and find their shyness a frustrating barrier to living life to the fullest. You might believe you were born shy; some science suggests that shyness is partially hereditary. However, you can learn to be less timid and to enjoy your life more. You weren’t born able to walk, talk, or ride a bike, but you still learned. You can learn to be more socially comfortable, too.

Try these strategies to come out of your social shell and enjoy the company of others:

· Imagine yourself being more social. The things you imagine are indistinguishable from actual experiences as far as your brain is concerned. Spend time each day visualizing yourself confidently and successfully navigating various social situations you would like to handle well in real life.

· Use systematic desensitization. Start small. Very small. Walk around your local mall and do your best to make eye contact with the people walking toward you. If that’s too intimidating, walk around with your head up, eyes forward, and confidently. Slowly ramp up the level of interaction from there.

a. Make it a point to smile and say “Hi” to one person. On the next trip, say “Hi” to three people.

b. Ask someone for directions to a store at the other end of the mall or for the time.

c. Have a 30-second conversation with another shopper or a store worker. Once you get used to that, start having 60-second discussions.

d. Develop a fair amount of comfort with one step before moving on to the next.

· Control your negative thoughts. You’re not anxious until you begin imagining adverse outcomes or engage in negative self-talk. Those are the two actions that trigger anxiety.

● Note that they are actions, meaning they are things you must do. They might be habits requiring little effort, but they are still under your control. Think about something positive instead.

· Stay present. Your anxiety will be much lower if your attention is focused on your environment or the person you interact with. When listening to someone speak, study their eyes or nose. Please focus all your time on them rather than engaging with your thoughts. You’ll be surprised by how much this helps!

· Use affirmations. Affirmations are one way of controlling your thoughts. Please list positive affirmations and use them whenever you’re feeling shy. Here are a few suggestions:

a. People are kind and interested in getting to know me.

b. People love me once they get to know me.

c. I am open to confidently meeting new and exciting people.

d. I am immune to the adverse reactions of others.

e. I am an influential and social person.

f. I love people, and they love me.

· Change your perspective. Wouldn’t you love meeting someone kind and friendly, even imperfect? Everyone feels the same way. You can be the kind, pleasant person that everyone wants to meet. You don’t have to be perfect or anything close to perfect. Just be kind and friendly.

You’ll have more friends than you know what to do with, but you have to let people get to know you. You can learn to be more socially bold and comfortable with practice. Be patient with yourself and start slowly. A slight improvement in your social comfort each week leads to significant progress very quickly. A little effort and courage are all that’s required. You can overcome your shyness and feel a greater enjoyment of life.