I'm so scared of looking like a fool, I'm not a great conversationalist. :( And I don't know why my fucked up brain thinks that my self-perception is more important than the awkward impression I'm giving off in reality.I know that one of the things that would help me is practice but where can I practice?
>>34080333anywhere, youre not going to find a perfect risk free environment to practice, thats kind of the pointits going to feel like shoving a square peg through a round hole at first but find any way to be social, small talk at the barber shop, cashier at grocery store, push past any embarassment you think youre experiencing and it will soon be no problem, just stay talking to people to fill the silence
>>34080355Have you done it? And did you improve after some time? Are you doing better now?Thx for the answer
>>34080434im doing so much better, i cant guarantee the same results since there is a significant enough portion of the equation that is based on luck, but man 18 months ago i was a whole different person, in my personal experience i gained a lot from therapy, i know not everyone is a fan or has access to it, but i went from there to casual small talk with coworkers, instead of self checkout i would go to the cashier and said "hows your day going," and thats as deep as it had to be at first. i reconnected with my family i had shut out for years. almost all of these experiences were painful and difficult but i kept trying because i was so sick of my old life. one of those coworkers i made small talk became a work friend, became close real life friend, became my girlfriend, now im sincerely considering making her my wife. while connecting with my dad i complained about not making the money i needed or the schedule i wanted. he since got my foot in the door at his company where i have to talk to people daily, i am just now realizing how much progress i am making because i was just focused on the mentality of "this is what needs to be done for me to improve." i dont want to sound like some motivational speaker jackass, because i technically have been working towards this for the last ten years, made some shitty missteps, made some halfass attempts that blew up in my face, made some promises to myself i didnt keep. you cant flip a switch that makes your life all better, im still having to work at things that feel so difficult it hurts, but the momentum i have now, and the confidence i am building in my own abilities and in my social support when i fail, it makes everything worth it
