Shyness can be really awkward. It can stop you from doing things in life that you'd really enjoy if it wasn't for the fact that you're clammed up in your self protective shell. So what can you do to overcome shyness?

1. Feel the fear and do it anyway

Yup. Plunging straight in - before your reflex "oh no, I'm shy" reaction has chance to kick in - can work wonders. If you act before you give yourself a chance to remember that you're shy, there's at least a chance that you can get over your shyness long enough to realize that things aren't as bad as you feared.

2. Practice not being shy

Talk to yourself in the mirror - it's probably best to do this at home rather than at work or school. If you can do that without blushing and feeling self conscious, you're on the right track to overcoming your shyness.

3. Remember times when you weren't shy

Almost no-one is permanently shy. Which means there have been times in your life when you were at least close to being a normal person. Re-enact those times in your mind and work out what was different. Then implement those differences next time you have the urge to feel shy.

4. Act

You've acted before, right? Maybe in a school play. Maybe to get what you wanted as a child where you pretended to play up. But you've almost certainly acted before and you can do it again, this time acting more confident than you normally are in the problem situation.

5. Smile

Smiling makes you look more approachable. Which means that even if you're too shy to start talking to someone else, there's a chance they'll break the ice first. And unless you're the type that runs a mile as soon as another person talks to you, this may be all you need to overcome your shyness on this occasion.

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