Life is full of opportunities. Making new friends helps us both make the most of life and grow in the process.
For some, shyness eliminates this avenue of personal growth. There’s often a yearning to be more outgoing - lives of those who are able to socialize effortlessly seem much more fun.
But you can change - you can become more outgoing...
We Present 10 Easy Techniques to Help You Loosen Your Constraints.
1. Join clubs and meet-up groups.
A great way to be more outgoing is to do what you love with like-minded people.
You’ll be able to make new friends and when you do something that you’re all passionate about, you’ll find it easier to share your ideas and experiences.
2. Say hello.
Greet people you ordinarily don’t - your neighbour, the bus driver, a stranger passing you on the street.
It may seem a bit awkward, and the recipients may look at you a bit strangely, but it’s a nice small step in doing something you’re not used to that gets you closer to the goal.
We often restrict ourselves to living within fixed parameters because the unknown intimidates us. After a while, saying hello to anyone won't seem like a big deal at all.
Download this meditation mp3 and Let Go of Your Inhibitions.
3. Teach.
Do you have a skill that can benefit others? Pass that skill on.
You’ll use and develop your organizational and communicative skills in the process. When you see the difference you've made in somebody's life, you’ll be delighted that you broke your comfort zone and tried something new.
4. Put yourself out there.
Be around people.
The energy of a group of people can be addictive and hypnotizing. When the group tries something, you’ll be more inclined to try it too.
- Associate with people outside your main group of friends.
- Make new contacts through responsible social media use.
- Build a network of people whose positive, go-getter energy rubs off on you.
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. Make eye contact.
Confidence is a key factor in becoming more adventurous. Shy people often avert their eyes when they talk to others. Practise to get over this fear.
- Make it a goal to keep eye contact for at least 3 seconds.
- Then take that up to 5 seconds.
- Continue to maintain eye contact as long as you can, without making things awkward, until you no longer have the uncomfortable feeling inside you that makes you avert your eyes.
6. Voice your opinion.
We stop ourselves from saying what’s on our mind or from taking a leadership role because we believe we’re going to make fools of ourselves among others who are seemingly pros.
The fear of failure and embarrassment holds us back, but you’d be surprised at how many of your friends and acquaintances would like hear more of what you have to say.
You don’t have to deliver a lecture, but if you have something to add, no matter how small, voice it out. And then make it a habit.
7. Do something new and strange everyday.
Train yourself to eliminate the restrictive line of thought of “I could never do that”.
Do something every day that you would ordinarily consider strange or weird!
- Wear pink socks.
- Ask the cashier how their day is going.
- Sit in a different place for lunch.
Putting yourself in situations outside your comfort zone will make it easier to try the new and the unfamiliar in the future.
8. Volunteer.
When we do something important and we know that the results will affect others positively, we lose some of our inhibitions because we know it’s for a good cause.
You may have trouble voicing your thoughts during meaningless chatter, but it's easier to do so when you believe other people will benefit from your idea.
Then there’s the opportunity to make new contacts and expand our circle of friends.
9. Ask questions.
Develop the courage to ask questions.
- Are you in a group of people talking about an unfamiliar topic? Ask to know more.
- Would you like to do an activity, and you need to know more details? Go up to someone and ask (rather than sending a message or an email.)
Small steps like asking for directions or asking for someone’s advice helps to build confidence and courage in stepping out of the shadows.
10. Change your outlook.
Don’t set yourself up for failure by thinking that change or new habits are impossible.
Develop confidence by starting small. See yourself as someone who can contribute to the experiences of others in a positive way.
It’s not easy to break out of our shells. The key is to take small steps, set realistic goals, and use the support of others.
We recommend that you download our meditation mp3 to become more outgoing.
Opportunities for new adventures abound, and no matter where we are, or what our circumstances are, an outgoing attitude can fill our lives with joy and colour.
