6 Ways To Overcome Shyness And Gain Confidence

Being shy can be a significant obstacle in both personal and professional situations. It can hold us back from making new friends, pursuing our dreams, or even speaking up in meetings at work. But the good news is that shyness is not a permanent personality trait, and there are ways to overcome it and gain confidence.

In this blog post, we will discuss six practical and effective ways to overcome shyness and build self-confidence.

Tips to Overcome Shyness

Hundreds of books have been written on how to beat shyness and gain confidence, but there are a few techniques that anyone can practice. Here are 6 suggestions of strategies on how to overcome your shyness:

1. Every morning, as soon as you get up, get in front of a mirror and say out loud, “I feel terrific! I feel terrific! I feel terrific!” Repeat this affirmation enthusiastically at least ten times every day until it’s ingrained into your subconscious mind. It feels a little self-conscious, to begin with. Lock yourself in the bathroom. The results will amaze you.
2. Feel good about yourself. Look at your best. Dress up more often. This gives you an extra feeling of confidence and self-esteem. On its own, just knowing that you look good will boost your confidence and reassure others that there are things about you that are worth getting to know.
3. Take a risk at least once a day. It’s very invigorating, and conquering fears by taking risks helps you grow in confidence and self-esteem. Start with small risks and fears and as you overcome them move on to bigger things. There’s nothing you cannot do. Be confident knowing that change can only help you grow and boost your self-confidence.
4. When you are engaged in a one-to-one conversation or with a larger group of people, let them know that you’re shy. This prevents them from misreading you and they are far more likely to invite you into the conversation rather than leave you just listening and wishing you could contribute.
5. Many people, me included, find following a conversation in a noisy room difficult. If you are having difficulty say so and move so that you can hear. People respect honesty and vulnerability, and you will attract more honest people into your life.
6. Rejection is a fact of life that everyone experiences. It is rarely you that is being rejected. If you are rejected, for example, if you ask someone for a date, remember that everyone has different likes and dislikes. You may be attracted to one type of person and not others. The same applies to other people; you are probably not their type. That does not devalue you in any way. Accept this and know that you will get over it. Never take it personally, and keep in mind that if people reject you, it is because of their likes and dislikes and not because of who you are. You are equally entitled to reject others because of your likes and dislikes.
7. Engage in activities that make you feel excited and good about yourself or start a hobby that gives you a feeling of relaxation. This could be anything from gardening to Tai Chi to Karate. Take some lessons, learn or master a musical instrument, or take singing lessons. Do something that excites you and take a risk. Exploring things that make you feel excited is an excellent antidote for shyness.