Shyness can be paralyzing at any age. It causes bizarre anxieties, nightmares, indigestion and, when the occasion to be strong and affirmative has passed, infinite regrets.
Do you thing you’re beyond hope?
If you do, you’re wrong. Shyness can be treated. You might not be aware that most psychologists who have published works on the subject, were at one time very shy themselves. Who is more likely to be interested in shyness, and write hundreds of pages about it, than a person who is shy!
Those who have never suffered from shyness are incapable of understanding to what point it can ruin our lives and make us unhappy.
Self assurance, confidence and ease of expression are the main qualities of a magnetic personality. If being shy is forcing you to hide behind a shell, then you’re missing out on many of the beauties of existence. Throw away your shell, and learn to live a full and satisfying life!
What kind of shy person are you?
This is no joke. There are varying degrees and numerous types of shyness.
This test will tell you what category you belong to:
1. You’re invited to a party with thirty other people. You only know one of them:
❑ a) You don’t leave that person’s side the whole evening.
❑ b) You chat with two or three other people, who seem as alone as you are.
❑ c) You move from one group to another, and take advantage of the opportunity to make new acquaintances.
2. You have go to an interview for a new job:
❑ a) You don’t sleep the night before.
❑ b) You have a hard time getting to sleep, convinced that the other candidates have more chance of getting the job than you do.
❑ c) You get a good night’s sleep, confident of your abilities and qualifications.
3. You arrive late for a conference, and realize that the entrance is right in front of the audience.
❑ a) You walk right in.
❑ b) You wait in the hallway for another latecomer, and slip in behind.
❑ c) You wait for a break in the proceedings before entering.
4. During a group discussion, you’re asked to voice your opinion about a subject that is familiar to you:
❑ a) You feel uncomfortable because people are looking at you, but you are able to provide an acceptable explanation.
❑ b) You’re taken by surprise, and find yourself incapable of expressing yourself coherently.
❑ c) You provide a clear and concise explanation, without feeling in the least embarrassed.
5. At a meeting where the participants are asked to state their views:
❑ a) You never take the floor because you’re convinced that you have nothing important to say.
❑ b) You speak out whenever you have a suggestion.
❑ c) You take the floor, and joke a bit before stating your opinion in a clear and concise manner.
6. The opinions of your colleagues:
❑ a) Sometimes cause you to change your attitude in order to please them.
❑ b) Slide off you like water off a duck’s tail.
❑ c) Often prevent you from sleeping.
7. You’re waiting in line when a few people push in front of you:
❑ a) You automatically step back in front of them.
❑ b) You ask them firmly but politely not to push in line.
❑ c) You’re afraid they’ll get aggressive and don’t say anything.
8. You’re discussing a subject you don’t know much about with a group of specialists:
❑ a) You are very impressed, and feel somewhat inadequate.
❑ b) You avoid saying much because you’re not familiar with the subject, but you don’t feel inferior because you do have a lot of expertise in other fields.
❑ c) You admit your ignorance, and show a desire to learn more.
9. You find yourself with a group of people who are somewhat snobbish:
❑ a) You let them know that you’re nobody’s fool.
❑ b) You try and be as snobbish as they are.
❑ c) You’re very impressed, and don’t dare say anything for fear of appearing ridiculous.
10. Your boss turns around and blames you for doing exactly what he asked you to do:
❑ a) You start excusing yourself and feel guilty.
❑ b) You excuse yourself and explain that you had trouble understanding his orders correctly.
❑ c) You remind him of his orders, politely but firmly,
11. You’re in the waiting room of a doctor who specializes in sexually transmitted diseases:
❑ a) You wonder what the other people must think of you.
❑ b) You behave as if you were in any other waiting room.
❑ c) You try to let the other patients know that you haven’t got that kind of problem.
12. Do you wear sunglasses:
❑ a) Never
❑ b) Sometimes
❑ c) Very often
13, When you have to make a speech or a presentation:
❑ a) You concentrate only on what you’re going to say, and neglect to listen to other people’s speeches.
❑ b) You half listen, but you’re distracted.
❑ c) You listen closely, and adapt your own speech to what has been said before.
14. You get the impression that other people:
❑ a) Treat you as an equal.
❑ b) Treat you with condescension.
❑ c) Make fun of you.
15. When someone compliments you:
❑ a) You feel uncomfortable, and mutter a few indistinct words in return.
❑ b) You transfer the credit to someone else, and quickly change the subject.
❑ c) You thank the person who complimented you.
16. When someone says something nasty about you:
❑ a) You are incapable of replying on the spot, and then spend the next two hours regretting that you didn’t come up with this or that retort.
❑ b) You feel rejected, misunderstood and disliked.
❑ c) You reply immediately.
17. Do you think that others know how shy you are?
❑ a) Somewhat
❑ b) Perfectly
❑ c) Not at all
18. When someone you don’t know raises their voice nearby:
❑ a) You immediately feel guilty.
❑ b) You think that the person needs to learn more self control.
❑ c) You laugh about it because whatever the cause is, it doesn’t concern you.
19. You’re on vacation, and someone invites you to join their group for dinner:
❑ a) You refuse because you don’t know the people, and end up eating alone.
❑ b) You refuse at first, but then feel obligated to accept when the person insists.
❑ c) You accept or decline, according to how your mood, with out feeling in the least disturbed.
20. Your shyness:
❑ a) Prevents you from saying what you think.
❑ b) Makes you say things that you really don’t think.
❑ c) Does not prevent you from expressing yourself.
See the results tomorrow..
