We may use our social abilities to build connections, influence decisions, and push people to change. In a class, though, I was encouraged to approach some people, but social anxiety came to mind. Fear had taken hold of me. When the speaker asked for volunteers to speak up and ask for questions, no one raised their hands, and no one dare to share their opinions on stage. Social skills would be a crucial talent for me to develop and improve, as a lack of them would significantly negatively impact my work and personal success. I drove two hours to the event to meet more people outside of my network, as I am an ex-pat who does not know many people. I engaged with the locals sitting next to me during the event, learned from their life stories, and made new connections. Sitting in the corner and being quiet without being seen seemed fairly lonely at times. Hiding in a corner surely seems comfortable and ensures not losing face, but this is an unneeded self-consciousness to restrict me from talking to strangers. Instead of being sociable, I walked right out of the classroom, making no eye contact with anyone else to avoid a potentially awkward situation.
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This is a chapter of my book: The Dilemmas of Life: How to overcome the dilemmas and live a better life
Get a full copy now on Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FHXLD4G
