Member-only story
One Simple Trick to Get Over Being Self-Conscious
But You’re Probably Not Going to Like It
Are you self-conscious? Do you get nervous in crowds or fear walking into a crowded room?
I used to be very ill at ease being around a lot of people I didn’t know. I was embarrassed if I needed to walk into a crowded room, hesitating outside the door. I just knew they would all be looking at me. And I certainly wouldn’t rise to their expectations. Finally, I would bow my head and charge in, looking at the floor, afraid to meet everyone’s gaze.
But I got over it, and you can get over it too. I know you can because I got over it in high school, of all places. High school. That place where self-consciousness is raised to an art form. Where it is taught right alongside algebra and history. Where you first begin to fear people are talking about you behind your back. Because they are.
But I remember that one time I forced myself to walk into the cafeteria and shuffle over to the table in the corner where a few friends sat. This guy I knew from my neighborhood not only noticed my discomfort but immediately diagnosed the cause. He was the same boy who, a few years later, gave me the sage advice on why you should never argue with anyone. Maybe I’ll write that one up soon. It was another defining moment.
