I'm going to admit that I am still afraid sometimes to go to a completely new place, like a new school, and start making friends. Having to talk to someone who you don't really know can be pretty nerve-racking, especially if that person seems intimidating at first. It took me a while to improve on this, even just a bit, but I must say that I have now come a decent way. I used to be pretty introverted and shy. I still am most of the time, but I like to think that I can talk to a stranger now if I really want to. For those of you who are going through the same struggles as me, here are some tips I can offer from my experience of coming out of my shell.
Treat the other person like a friend
Just like the law says, you should assume a person is innocent until proven guilty. When you're meeting a new person, assume that you will want to see them again in the future and that they will become a good friend to you. Assume that they are a nice person and imagine that you are already friends. You probably have no history with each other whatsoever but you can definitely talk to them like you've known them for some time. This can make conversation with a stranger seem much more natural and makes the situation much more comfortable overall. Of course, you still have to introduce yourself, but maybe you don't have to do it right way. Instead, you can start by making some sort of funny remark or comment about something happening around you and introduce yourself afterwards.
You start off with a clean slate
It's true that you don't know anything about the other person, but it is also true that they don't know anything about you. Some of you might be afraid to meet new people because you feel like people might judge you for your past actions. Well, guess what? A stranger won't know about those things, and I'm pretty sure that they wouldn't assume that you are a terrible person right off the bat. Your past mistakes shouldn't define who you are as a person. Everyone deserves a fresh start, and there is no better way to start fresh than by meeting someone entirely new. For all you know, the next person you talk to could be your future best friend or your soulmate.
Just be yourself
If you're afraid of meeting new people because you are really weird and you're into things that probably only weirdos are into, then you're being afraid for the wrong reasons. You shouldn't ever be afraid to be yourself. If you don't hit it off with someone, chances are that you'll never see them again, so even if they do judge you their opinion really doesn't matter at all. If they don't judge you for being different and they actually like you for who you are (or they are just as weird as you), then maybe you'll end up making a very special friendship. You can think of your uniqueness as a sort of filter, making sure you end up with quality friends only.
"Be yourself, because an original is worth more than a copy." - Anonymous
