There were times I got nervous in meeting people and making new friends.
There were times that I worried about what people would think of me, and how I should act around people who I did not know.
Here are some suggestions on how I reduced my shyness and fears of making new friends.
The first thing I realized from experience is to be yourself. Do not pretend to be someone you are not because it will eventually catch up to you.
You want your potential friends to be your friend for who you are and not for what you have or do not have. This will save you a lot of time and heartache.
I made it a habit to find people of similar interests to help increase my chances of making friends.
I would join a local club to meet people. Meeting people with similar interests will make it easier to make friends because you will both have something in common. It will also make it easy to start a conversation with someone.
I learned that in order to have a friend, you have to be a friend.
Be outgoing and considerate when you are around people. Most importantly, I learned never to rush or force a friendship. Just be friendly to everyone and eventually you will find someone who will want to be your friend.
When I meet new people I always try to show some interest in the people I talk to.
Talk to others in terms of their needs and wants. Do not just talk about yourself. In addition, learn to smile when talking to others.
If you still have trouble meeting people and making friends, then your best bet is to talk to a professional counselor who can give you additional tips and suggestions. Remember that practice makes perfect. The more times you practice meeting new people, the easier it will get.
Read more posts by Stan Popovich, an author who personally overcame fear and anxiety in his life here. Stan is a blogger for JenningsWire.
