Shyness can be embarrassing in social situations, but keep in mind that you are not alone in feeling shy. Many people experience it, since most of us are a mix-ture of shyness and confidence. There are steps you can take to overcome shyness, however.
Make a note of every time you feel shy, including who was involved; what your thoughts and feelings were, and how you behaved. Look at your notes after a while to see if there is a pattern you can identify. Do certain people make you feel shy, or certain subjects or situations? Why do you think you are reacting to them in this way?
If you feel shy in front of figures of authority, tell yourself you are as worth-while a person as they are - they just do a different job.
If you want to ask a question, tell yourself you are not a fool. Your question is worth asking, and you have a right to be informed.
If you feel shy because you think people won't accept you or won't like you, remind yourself that this is probably not true, and doesn't really matter anyway.
Look people in the eye and try to speak with greater confidence.
Think about how you would like to behave in certain situations, and then try to carry it out.
Think about the questions you may be asked at a social gathering, and plan your answers. Plan, too, some questions that you can ask to get the conversation going.
Find someone who looks as shy as you feel and try to strike up a conversation with them. You'll soon forget your own feelings of shyness.
