How to Break Shyness & Be an Extrovert

If you are a quiet person who usually keeps to yourself, then you most likely have a shy and introverted personality. Sometimes, excessive shyness can lead to serious problems in life, from an inability to establish interpersonal relationships to anxiety associated with going out into public and interacting with people. You can improve and enhance your existence by coming out of your shell and learning how to be a confident and extroverted individual, rather than a reticent wallflower.

Instructions

• 1

  Analyze why you are shy. In order to eliminate shyness from your life, you first need to get to the root cause of it. Go back into the archives of your life to get to the causes, whether it was a bad experience during a speech presentation in junior high school or persistent bullying from a particularly loud and extroverted sibling.

• 2

  Identify your biggest fears. Shyness is generally linked with intense fear. For example, you think that if you say the wrong thing, people may laugh at you. You may fear that talking will draw attention to you and cause people to pick you apart and criticize you. Figure out exactly what you are afraid of when it comes to social situations and interacting with other people.

• 3

  Visualize extroversion. If your dream is to become an extrovert, then it is clear that you are unhappy as an introvert. To begin your path to comfort socially, consider what kind of behavior would be ideal to you. If you have a goal set aside in your mind, the easier it will be for you to work your way toward it. Without a defined objective, you may flounder and feel little sense of purpose.

• 4

  Get out of your comfort zone. To transform yourself from an introvert to an extrovert, a lot of risk taking is required. If you stay too comfortable within your shy routine, then you are essentially discouraging positive change and growth. Put together small goals on your journey to becoming an extrovert. If you wish to develop strong friendships with other people, establish goals such as attending more social gatherings, starting brand new hobbies and activities and introducing yourself to new people. These kinds of activities can encourage self-confidence, which is useful for overcoming shyness. Take things gradually. For instance, show up to an event at first. Then, at your next opportunity, try to gather up the courage to speak and be social with strangers. Rushing into social situations can be a recipe for disaster, so take your time and only do things as you are ready.

• 5

  Restrict your Internet communications. Although communicating with people through the Internet can be beneficial, it also can prevent you from getting face-to-face experience dealing with people. Get out of your home and make an attempt to meet people in "real-life" settings in which body language, facial expressions and vocal tone are all important variables.

• 6

  Practice small talk. Shooting the breeze with strangers is often a shy person's biggest nightmare. However, it can serve as effective practice for developing and nourishing a personality. Take every opportunity you can to exchange a few words with strangers. When buying your morning latte at the coffee shop, ask the person behind the counter how his weekend was. Say hello to your neighbor across the street when she comes outside to pick up the newspaper. Not only will it help you polish up your communication skills, but it will make you come across as friendly and amiable, as well.