Being a shy person is difficult. One issue is it is difficult for us to speak to people we do not know. Another issue is we do want to talk to people, we just do not want to say anything that we would regret later. Shy people constantly fear not being accepted by others--which is why they're often so quiet. But once we are comfortable with the environment we are in, we are fun to be around!
One piece of advice is to reach out by saying hi, and smile! That would make a shy person want to say hi to familiar people they see. It can be awkward for a shy person to figure out how to start a conversation. Also, have patience with them, and try to help them keep the conversation going. If they see that you are interested in what they are saying, they will see that they can relax. We want to make friends, but it takes us a lot of persistence to get out of the comfort zone. When someone is around a shy person for a long period of time, they will discover shy people are fun. We often have a good sense of humor, and we like to hang out with friends.
The terms introversion and shyness are often thought as being the same. They are different. But they do have some similarities. According to Elements Behavioral Health, the introvert enjoys time alone to recharge, and needs less stimulation than extroverts. Introverts also tend to be great at concentration, and like to throw themselves into one task at a time. Small talk doesn't appeal to them, but deep conversations do. On top of that, they tend to think before they speak and are considered good listeners.
Shyness is a fear of negative judgment of others. Susan Cain explained in “Quiet,” her landmark book on introverts: “Shyness is the fear of social disapproval or humiliation, while introversion is a preference for environments that are not over stimulating.” One stays home from the party by preference, in other words, and the other from fear. Shy and introvert do sometimes overlap, of course, especially if the introvert has been made to feel as though their low-key personality is somehow less desirable than an extroverted one.
