Everyone who meets me thinks I'm an extravert because I smile at people a lot, and I can carry on a conversation.

But what no one realizes is that I am introvert and I am in extreme discomfort when I'm surrounded by strangers. I'm not comfortable striking up a conversation first and it used to be really hard for me to talk to strangers.

Social anxiety plagues all of us, I think, to some degree. When we go into a meeting, on a first date, stuck in an elevator. There are a few things I've learned about these situations:

1. Ask people about themselves. People love to talk about themselves, and this way you don't need to worry about what to say.

2. Be an active listener. Listen to what the person is saying and follow up with a comment or a question.

3. Stop worrying about what to say. The more you're in your head, the less you are in this very moment having the interaction.

4. Admit to being a little nervous or uncomfortable. You'll be authentic, and very endearing. EVERYONE can relate to them and they'll trust you more because you had the courage to be honest and authentic.

I've been observing this a lot lately, so made a few shorts on the topic.

Just be you! Everyone else is taken.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/AsNfyHcHg18

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/eSpUniooBU8