outside myself

I used to be shy. Super shy. Nervous, anxious, never talked to anybody, shy. I didn't know what to say to people or how to make conversation. I wasn't trying to be rude, I just struggled with being outgoing. I was an introvert; not on purpose, I just didn't know how to be anything else.

A lot has happened in my life to bring me around to being an extrovert. Big life experiences suddenly give you a hundred things to talk about: getting married, having kids, your job... Having supportive family members (parents, spouses) can really build your confidence. Discovering something unique about yourself or educating yourself in sometime interesting. These are all very helpful in creating an extrovert.

But there is one thing, one perspective that totally changed me: it was when I started looking outside myself and started caring more about the people around me. I started realizing that people were interesting and the best way to discover more about them was to ask them questions. Once I started putting others above myself, it made a world of difference. Now I can talk to just about anyone, even initiate a conversation with someone I don't know. And I enjoy it.

Galatians 5:21 - Honor God and put others first.

(It really doesn't get much simpler than that.)

KC