What if we don’t feel like we can relate? It’s easy to see outgoing people as explorers that push boundaries and heroes that save the day, but what if we are shy, or quiet, or an introvert? Is there a way to overcome overcome shyness at any age, or are we locked into our behavior? 

I don’t believe that being shy has to limit anyone. Being shy is not incompatible with the human trait of exploration or the longing to discover or create something. Throughout history, some of the most brilliant and successful people have been shy, quiet, or introverted! There are lots of examples to choose from that are well known to basically everyone, but my favorite is a name that is known around the world – Albert Einstein. 

We would not have an understanding of the world around us today without Einstein. To say that he wrote the book on the science of physics as we know it is putting things mildly. But, did you know that he was known for being an introvert? He actually believed that his creativity and ways of thinking were because he kept to himself, not in spite of it! He literally changed the scientific world, and he didn’t need to be on national television to do it! 

The thing we need to remember is that even though he was an introvert, he still had to interact with other people. He gave lectures. He wrote books. He taught students and was interviewed and defended his theories. He did spend time in solitude, and that was fine. But, he didn’t completely lock himself away – he knew when to share and was able to change the world because of what he shared. 

The lesson here is that we need to find the balance for this part of our lives. We can spend time alone, creating, and thinking, but we have to be prepared to interact with others and share what we have made or discovered. Einstein’s is a great inspirational story if we understand that he put himself in public when it was necessary, but also gave himself the time alone to create. He knew what gave him the ability to create, but he also knew that he needed to share what he created. He is just one of many great examples of introverts who changed the world!

Here are 4 things we can do to inspire others:

1. Be Authentic
2. Be Confident
3. Be Honest
4. Be Open 

Be Authentic

It isn’t always easy to be our authentic selves. Many of us feel that if the world sees us, they won’t like what they see. Many of us don’t like what we see when we look in the mirror, so we try to make up some new persona to present to the world. However, when people see that we are putting on a mask, they can tell that we are being fake. Authenticity attracts people. When we are truly ourselves, not trying to be someone else, people will be genuinely attracted to who we really are – and that leads us to number two.

Be Confident

People are attracted to confidence. But, gaining confidence is hard! Not all of us were praised for doing well when we were little. We have all failed at something, and some of us have failed more often and in worse ways than others! But, we have to remember that no one has every gained anything through giving up. Be confident in your ability! And, if you aren’t able to do something, be confident in your ability to learn! People love confidence, but make sure it doesn’t go over the top and turn into arrogance.

Be Honest

Honesty is the best policy. We all know a liar, and very few of us would ever say that we like them. Lying, cheating, misleading people…these are all traits of people that don’t have the skills or confidence to do things for themselves! They get by because they mistreat people, not because they are authentic or confident. Real, confident people don’t need to lie! Honesty is attractive and refreshing, and it will help you to attract the kind of people and situations in your life that you really want to have.

Be Open

The only thing that will never change in your life is that there will be change. No matter what happens, be open to it. Maybe you’ll need to learn a new skill, or find a new job, or change your major. Change is unavoidable. Learning who you are and what you need to change to be happy is a skill that’s best acquired while you’re young. Learning new skills, leaving bad relationships, or overcoming shyness at any age can be difficult, but the older and more set in your ways you become, the harder these changes will be. Understand that nothing lasts forever, and be open to whatever life is going to bring next. Others will see this and be inspired, and you’ll be able to help the next person on their journey. 

Plenty of parents and teachers want to know how to help  teens “come out of their shell”. They look for inspirational stories for teens so that their own kids or their students can feel empowered. Are you working with young people, or are you a teen or young adult looking for guidance yourself? Here are three important questions to ask for overcoming shyness, at any age.

1. When do I feel strongest?
   The first question may seem obvious, but we need to really assess what makes us happy and confident so we can find out why. What makes us feel like we fit in and belong? What makes us feel capable and powerful? Answering this shows us where we feel our strongest and most comfortable. Identifying and playing to your strengths helps build confidence for new experiences in comfortable ways.
2. What scenarios make me feel the worst? What do I really fear?

This one helps us see what our limits are. We can define the problem areas so we know what to avoid. We all have the “nightmare scenario” that we would hate to be in. What is yours? Is it a presentation in front of a large group? Is it an interview for a university or job? What is it that we fear, or what have we done that we felt we were really bad at in the past? The answer will highlight situations you need to put a strategy in place to manage. If you can’t stand meeting people in large groups then walking into a new classroom could be terrifying for you. Whenever possible, take small steps to ease your way in so that it isn’t overwhelming.

3. How can I change my perception of this scenario to make it manageable?

Not every new situation will be fun and exciting. Sometimes we find ourselves in

situations where we just want to shrink into a corner and disappear. But when we realize that is a situation we are in, we can modify it to make it more fitting to our strengths.

Most people have an area of their life that they feel that they excel in. Some students are great at maths and science. Others prefer performance arts, or sports. The key to creating your OWN inspirational story is asking yourself these questions in your own life. Maybe you like sports because there are clearly defined rules that direct game play. Following a structure might help guide you to your best performance! If you’re that type of person and you’re given an open-ended task to complete, it may feel impossible to do. Getting direction and guidance will make all the difference, and help you focus! Just ask yourself these questions in difficult situations, and be willing to make the effort to change your outlook! You’ll be amazed at the difference your analysis will make.