5
Steps To Overcome Social Anxiety & Network Like a Pro
By Megan Bruneau
“You are SO awkward. They don’t ACTUALLY like you. You’re just gonna make a fool of yourself. Besides, you know you’re going to be in your head the whole time. Just tell them you’re sick and save everyone the trouble ... “
A
certain degree of social anxiety is completely normal—even helpful. The fear of rejection or negative judgment is evolutionary: in caveperson days, rejection could mean ostracization from the pack, which meant little chance for survival or procreation. But there’s a difference between wanting to be accepted and
16 The Alberta Broker April-May 2022
fearing rejection so much we avoid any setting where there’s a possibility of judgment (which, masochistically, is usually our own judgment toward ourselves, not someone else’s). Social anxiety is only a problem when it’s so intense it prevents you from attending or enjoying social settings. If that’s the case for you, let’s explore how to tai chi it so you
can form lasting friendships and connection. First, a very important fact: the more we avoid feeling anxiety, the more power it has over us. Why? Because anxiety and confidence are inversely related, so in order for us to decrease anxiety, we have to gain confidence. And how do we gain
