I’m sure you are familiar with the phrase ‘to stand out from the crowd’. If you are attempting to get that promotion at work or impress a prospective partner on a date, then it is very useful to be able to stand out from the crowd. Have you ever been disregarded for opportunities when those who are less experienced or less qualified manage to nudge in ahead of you? If so then it’s possible you were just not getting yourself noticed enough. Why should this be? Chances are because you are too timid or shy to do anything about it.

Some say shyness is the mortal enemy of confidence, and not without good reason. However, a little shyness displayed as modesty is an attractive quality to a lot people, but that’s not what this is about. What we are analysing here is the particular kind of shyness that inhibits you from speaking to people clearly. The sort of shyness that prevents you from being outgoing with people you don’t know. Basically, the type of low confidence that can obstruct you from reaching your true potential.

There is a general misconception amongst many shy people that they behave this way due to hereditary or biological reasons. This article is not intended to give a biology lesson – that’s the scientists’ job – but I want to assure you of one thing... there isn’t one single shy person who cannot rid themselves of their inhibitions if they want to no matter what their genetic make-up, and I’m talking about you. The reason is because as human beings we have the ability to shape ourselves however we want as long as we have the will to change and, equally as important, the ability to stop labelling yourself as a naturally shy person.

This type of labelling is one of the main ways we assign an identity to ourselves. It can be displayed outwardly, for example in the clothes we wear or the music we listen to. It can also be displayed inwardly in the way we affix emotions and thoughts to our identity and the more we do this, the more we see it as being true and unshakeable. We become victims to acting in a certain way purely by falling into the trap of thinking that’s the way we are. The power of the mind can sometimes attack from two unexpected directions.

Nevertheless, if we are able to assign a shy label to ourselves then consequently we can also attach a more outward, extroverted quality as well. A highly effective way of accomplishing this is, to coin a phrase, to wipe the mental slate clean. Consider yourself as an adaptable being and not someone set in their ways. Turn the process on its axis by thinking about the situations in life where you want to be more confident and not thinking about your shyness as an individual. This could be somewhere like a dinner party or just a visit to the local shops. To put it simply, start visualising how you would ultimately like to be perceived by others, and yourself.

Your reincarnation from shy introvert to outgoing extrovert should be as natural as possible and one of the easiest ways to do this is through using your imagination. In the same way we covered using the power of your mind to convert your beliefs about your own identity, so should you think about how other people might warrant the same clean slate approach. In other words – regard others with an open mind. At the end of the day, what have you got to lose?

Ian Russell - If you liked this article you can find out more and get a f.reevideo at www.theinnermindset.com