A Guide To Overcoming Shyness

"As she was called upon  the dais to give a speech on Independence day, Lisa seemed to be getting uneasy at her desk. Unwilling to even lift her butts up the bench, all she she could do was to look at the teacher with an expression of demency. “come on…you can do that baby”, prompted her friends from behind. “Lisa, don’t waste time…”, roared the teacher, “there’s so many other students waiting in the line”.

Helplessly, Lisa got up and ambled her way to the podium. Turning to the audience with an air of apprehension, she tried her best to silence her heart that was beating fretfully in her bosom. “H..hello”, she uttered faintly, unable to make eye contact with the intense audience. Before she could speak a word further, her lips started to tremble and the eyes watered with embarrassment."

Everyone feels shy at some point or the other in his or her life; It’s a normal thing you deal with in everyday life. However, when shyness starts to interfere with your day-to-day activities such that you are unable to get the most of your academics, it should be attended to immediately. In this article, I'll tell you how you can eliminate your shyness and be more outspoken in the class so that you're not counted as some dull back-bencher.

Follow the Three-seconds rule

Whenever there is an opportunity where you would get to speak in the class, do it within three seconds without thinking about the consequences. Just do it and be prepared for the worst. This rule can greatly help to overcome your shyness in general areas of your life. What you feel like doing at an instant, which you'd be avoiding or contemplating about before out of shyness, just do it within three seconds, being prepared for the worst. Make it your habit, and the shyness will die out.

Feel good about yourself

It is very important that you feel good about yourself. This is possible only if you have a high self-esteem; and in case if you don’t have, there’re many thing you can do to build it. Pay attention to your health and hygiene—health is not a gift but a prize that’s achieved through endeavor. Look good by working out regularly and wearing neat and tidy dresses that are in vogue. Don’t forget to wear a smile!

Other thing you can do to raise your self-esteem is study and bring good grades; you’ll be appreciated for that—a positive reinforcement for you to amplify the action that that brought about this positive change; an ample reason to believe in your worth.

 Specialize in a particular academic field.

You need not feel bad about your flaws—may be you don’t have a good pitch for delivering a emotive speech; but that shouldn't bring you down. You must be having some other strength that makes you unique. Highlight your strengths and hide your flaws. Don’t be a stereotype. Stand out. Be specialized in a particular field and tokenize your expertise with confidence.

Be energetic.

 A study says that you feel good and confident when the level of dopamine in your brain is higher. Dopamine is ‘feel good’ hormone whose secretion is triggered by vigorous physical exercises. Even a brisk morning walk can increase your dopamine level significantly for the entire day; it will make you feel good and confident; and will get the impetus to show your worth—a chemical drive!

*According to a new research, Setting new goals and endeavoring to accomplish them increases your dopamine level significantly. What about setting a goal to beat that girl(which you have been envying since ages) in the annual dance competition?

Final words

It is important to understand that Unlike some introverts, many shy peoples want to be outspoken and sociable. However, the insecurity within them prevents them to unleash their potential. They are too conscious of themselves around peoples—and before acting—imagines the whole set of scenes that would follow, often placing themselves in a negative enclosure. I hope the following points will prove to be helpful in battling the shyness that has been inhibiting you all the times, preventing you from proving your worth!