Tips to Get Rid of Your Shyness and Low Self-esteem

How to Get Rid of Your Shyness and be Confident

       

     Shyness can hold people back — because shy people have a tendency to stay away from crowd situations and are afraid to talk, in part because they experience a lot of chronic anxiety.

If you feel this way, don't worry, because you're not alone—four out of ten humans consider themselves shy.

But here's the real news: Shyness is manageable. With time and effort and the desire to change, it is very possible to break through.

If your shyness is severe, you may need help from a therapist or psychiatrist, but most people can work it out on their own.

What Causes People To Become Shy?

About 15% of babies are born with a tendency to shyness. Studies have shown biological differences in shy people's brains. (healthline.com)

Why are some human beings shy in social situations, while others thrive? While it's not always clear why, there are several possible explanations, which include a poor self-image, bullying, personality traits, and a lack of experience in social interactions.

Shyness can also be described as discomfort, inhibition, or awkwardness in front of other people.

For example, when you are shy, you may remain in a group conversation, but you don't speak up. You mumble minimal answers and fail to engage socially with other people.

People get embarrassed from time to time, and there's nothing wrong with that. But if your shyness is starting to bother you, or you feel like it's pushing you back, there are things you can do to work around it.

You may feel your social anxiety or even your shyness is out of your control, but it's not. There are several ways to control these feelings, no matter how intense they are.

1. Practice your smile

The physical act of smiling affects both temperament and shyness.

In short, being excited can make you smile. Smiling can make you happy too. In one study, smiling under scary conditions helped shy children curb social anxiety.

And it's not just a smile that can help turn your mood around. You can practice:

- relax muscles in your face

- proper posture

- relaxes your eyebrows

On the other hand, studies have also observed that people with social anxiety tend to smile more than people who don't have it. Meanwhile, in another study, people with social anxiety smiled more often to reflect the person they were talking to.

If you're feeling tired from using the idea of smiling more than ever, that's okay.

2. Bringing fun

Taking part in activities that you enjoy can be a great way to manage social anxiety. By focusing on things like yoga, drawing, or gardening, you can please yourself and have fun, unless you're worried about what other people think.

Sometimes you need to give your mind a break from it all. Some studies have even noted that pursuing recreation because it is enjoyable is associated with better intellectual health and proper outcomes in therapy.

And anything you do should not be for show or display. You can blog, paint, build a birdcage, or ride a bike on your own. This is your pleasure.

3. Explore your power

Take a moment to consider embarrassment from an evolutionary perspective.

If you're out, you've probably ventured out to discover new areas, find resources, and engage with other communities. If you are shy, you may want to stay close to your home to avoid potential threats.

Both roles are required. In the meantime, exploration can help you make discoveries, but it can also put you on a path of potential danger. Holding on to one place keeps you safe.

It can be very helpful to highlight your strengths instead of seeing your shyness as a weakness. Identifying areas where your abilities shine can boost your confidence, which in turn can help reduce feelings of insecurity.

Maybe you're a great animal scientist, talented artist, or passionate scientist. Maybe you are a loving listener, and your family and friends are always looking for your advice.

The world needs balance, and what higher way to achieve that stability than with an amazing personality type?

You might need more time to open up. But you have many valuable qualities, such as empathy, sensitivity, and awareness, to offer while you're at it.

4. Recognize the advantages of shyness

Maybe you're having a hard time opening up to new people right away, or you're feeling a little uncomfortable before you have to talk to someone new.

While this may mean that you're not friends, or that it's easy to find a date without the hassle that more sociable people do, it's worth noting that a little bit of prudence can't hurt.

Holding back when you meet new people allows you to learn more about them before you plunge into friendships or relationships.

It also creates extra room for confidence to grow, and having confidence is a good thing.

5. Practice Your Skills

If you decide to work on your shyness, embrace every opportunity to talk to someone else.

Talk to your neighbors, co-workers, and family members. Ask a question or share some info. Don't push yourself to make stupid or irrelevant comments. If you are too hard on yourself every time you discuss, you will never even try. Think of talking with other people as a learning experience.