Self Conscious??

I'm a freak when it comes to being self-conscious. I don't know why I care so much... sometimes I wish I didn't. I think the state of being self-conscious increases and then decreases throughout a person's life though. Kids aren't all that self-conscious because they don't know what that really means. There's no reason to be because they're naive to the rules society has placed on certain behaviors. But have you ever noticed how elderly folks can be so much fun to talk to because they just don't care what they say anymore? They're so much more talkative and always have something interesting to say. Maybe we're just in that inbetween stage of being self-conscious... teenage years to young adulthood is tough, but we get through it =).

Self consciousness is the No.1 enemy of self confidence. Learn how to keep your attention off yourself. You can do this easily by following these steps... a) If you notice you have become self-conscious, (you can usually tell because you start to feel anxious), choose something 'everyday' you can see and study it in detail. For example: examine a door, look at the different textures and shades of colour, wonder about who made it and how and so on. The important thing is that you're learning how to keep your attention off yourself. b) If you feel self-conscious in a social situation, it's usually because you don't have enough to do! Focus on what your purpose in the situation is. Whether you're there to: * find out if you like the other people in the situation * make others feel comfortable * find out some information * make business contacts It's easy to feel self-conscious if you have nothing to do, and much more difficult if your attention is occupied by a task. Think how comfortable you have been with others when you're all working toward a common goal. The common goal of socializing could be making friends, it could be the exchange of mutually beneficial information, it could be whatever you want it to be!