hey there readers,
Do you have Social anxiety, if so I believe this will interest you also, so sit back relax and enjoy!!
Firstly, you need to understand that social anxiety and nervousness when public speaking is fundamentally a form of fear. pretty much social anxiety = fear of social interaction. you can indeed unlearn this fear. I will share with you how to shortly but for now let me tell you my story (yes, I am still working on it) but hell if you looked back when I was in high school to now, you will see the progress I've made.
In high school, I wasn't the most liked kid, Mr.popular, The jock, etc, etc. (you get my drift). I was timid and shy. I was afraid of how my classmates would judge me or if I didn't like the same stuff they did. I was shy; uncomfortable in a lot of social situations. Such as what if I said the wrong thing. Next thing bam (you know how kids are they will remember it forever) and as long as you went to that high school they wouldn't let it go. they would laugh. I use to be so nervous of what to say during a conversion that half of the time I'd say the wrong thing and they would laugh and pick on me. I'd end up making it worse. from ninth grade on up to my senior year I would still be a little shy but not as timid as I once was as a freshman. once I graduated High School. it was time to go to college (welcome to the adult life!!, the world that no high school ever teaches or prepares you for.
so college came I took Criminal Justice. I, of course, want to become a police officer. I made a lot of new friends. College; boy was I nervous. but I finally sat down one evening and asked myself why am I so timid, shy, and what makes me feel this way. Most people are nice and are just as timid and shy as me. I mean this was a fresh start for everyone, new faces, new area, new school, new everything. So one day in public speaking we had this assignment. My professor called it The 100 interactions challenge. We all had a month to complete it and we would have to write a short summary of how we interacted with others. the rules were simple we couldn't use any of our classmates, and no relatives. we had to talk to strangers. Rather be people who go to our school, coworkers, etc. I thought oh boy this is going to be the death of me. but in the end, this made me a lot better of a communicator I wasn't as shy, or even timid when I went up to others. ever since then, I have used this method try to use it in different situations. Practice makes perfect and nothing is every easy you have to work for the results you want.
But this method will definitely make you a better person, a better you and in time you, yourself will not even think about social anxiety. So have you ever went out at night to explore the city by yourself, or with your mates, but you just stood around as you observe them, and others mingling and chatting it up? "do you ask yourself what is wrong with me??", " Why can't I just strike up a conversion with anyone or even with the cutie sitting by themselves? The answer is simple you, just like me have Social anxiety. yes, that is right now before I tell you a little more about this 100 interactions challenge( which I'm sure you are dying to know about) let me go on and explain what social anxiety is. so people who don't have this problem can understand why we are how we are. but is this the end of the world?? no, we can unlearn this and not even notice it and not have social anxiety. :)
The best way to overcome fear is to look directly into its eyes!!
so you may be wondering how can I unlearn social anxiety ?? well here it is. The best way is to create a personal challenge for yourself. The 100 interactions challenge. I can promise you, not even promise you but 100% guarantee that if you successfully complete this challenge. you will find yourself in a much better place socially than before.
Rules:
- 1 month to interact with 100 strangers (so you don't need to have a full blown conversion)
- use bullet proof conversion - which are conversion starters which are socially acceptable an example "excuse me, do you know how to get to so and so? "do you know what time it is?"
Try the 3..2..1..method: The reason you freeze up at the last minute is that you allow your mind to start talking, or to think.
if you have social anxiety don't let your mind have time to think. if you do just like how I use to. I would start to think "what if they think I'm weird and they don't want to talk to me". "what if she ignores me?" it'll make you think all these negative thoughts. So bullet proof conversion demolishes this. it'll help you strike a conversation with anyone and even to that hottie. over time you will get really good and not even notice you once had social anxiety.
So the 3..2..1.. method works like this as soon as you count down to 1 you have to start the interaction. this prevents your brain from coming up with them negative excuses !! :)
no one said it'll be easy guys, but as you continue on with this month long challenge try spicing it up if you have a hard time talking to girls, guys or a certain type of person ( rather it be their personality, height maybe you are scared to talk to taller people if you are short or even people with tattoos, etc) try it! I promise you. this will change your life and help you be the social butterfly we all have inside us.
