What are you good at? What are your best attributes? Make a list. Solicit input from your closest friends and family members. Remember to list personality traits, skills and talents, physical features, social or interpersonal skills, and anything else you can think of. Read the list every morning, and add to it! Be kind to yourself, and practice positive self-talk. When you look in the mirror in the morning, smile at yourself and say, “You deserve to be happy today!” You can also pick a physical feature that you love about yourself, and give yourself compliments. Try, “Good morning gorgeous! You have the best smile!"[1] X Research source
For example, if you are easily embarrassed by small talk because you don’t consider yourself to have strong interpersonal skills, you can first work on your interpersonal skills, then set a goal to challenge yourself in that area. Developing interpersonal skills starts by becoming aware of the messages you are sending and then practicing sending different ones. You can team up with a friend (preferably someone with great social skills) and do some role-playing to improve your skills. Be sure to check out Develop Interpersonal Skills to learn more about developing interpersonal skills. Set a small goal to initiate conversation with one peer every week. Gradually you can increase the number of conversations until you are up to one every day. [2] X Research source Check out Gain Confidence for more tips on how to develop your self-confidence.
Good friends celebrate with you when you succeed and challenge you to try new things. [3] X Research source After you spend time with a friend, ask yourself how you feel: Do you feel renewed and refreshed, ready to take on another day? Or do you feel drained and exhausted, as if you’ve had to put up a front? Your emotional state after spending time with someone can tell you a lot about that person’s effect on your self-confidence and general emotional well-being. [4] X Research source
Most people struggle with feelings of inadequacy throughout their lives, and embarrassment in social situations is a very common way it manifests. [5] X Research source Try looking at celebrities with new eyes: Jim Carey, Kim Cattrall, and William Shatner have all struggled with crippling stage fright that almost derailed their careers. [6] X Research source But all of them have gone on to hugely successful careers. Feelings of inadequacy are often traced all the way back to childhood. For example, if you felt you had to fight for your parent’s approval or attention, if what you did was never good enough to get their attention, or if you were bullied by your peers, you might struggle with feelings of inadequacy even as an adult. In some cases, you might benefit from therapy to deal with childhood issues that contribute to your feelings of embarrassment today.
Some people tend to experience the most embarrassment when people they know see them do something wrong. This feeling is closely related to shame. Other triggers include other people saying or doing things that seem inappropriate (such as talking about sex or bodily functions around you). [7] X Research source Other times, embarrassment comes from general feelings of inadequacy. This might manifest as a fear of meeting new people, embarrassment about your appearance, or fear to speak up in class. [8] X Research source
Being easily embarrassed is a personality trait, part of what makes you who you are. People who are easily embarrassed also tend to feel other emotions deeply, making them great empathizers and great friends. Be proud of who you are![11] X Research source Ask your friends about embarrassing things that have happened to them. This will reassure you that everyone goes through embarrassing moments![12] X Research source
Occasionally, it’s OK to relive past embarrassment, if only to put current embarrassing situations in perspective. After all, you lived through every past embarrassing thing you’ve ever done, so why should this one be any different?[13] X Research source Otherwise, be kind to yourself and allow yourself to forget and move on. What would you say to a good friend who was in your shoes? Remember to be a friend to yourself. [14] X Research source
If you must give a speech and public speaking is your trigger, try using a Powerpoint slideshow or other visual aid. This helps by subtly distracting people from staring at you as you talk. Also, practice until you are perfectly familiar with all of your material; this will make you more confident that you know your stuff. [16] X Research source
If your friends tend to point out that your face is turning red, ask them to stop. Studies show that simply telling someone that their face is red will make their face turn redder![17] X Research source Ask people you trust to stop teasing you about sensitive topics. For some people, the most embarrassing thing is when they are teased about an insecurity (like a physical attribute or someone they have a crush on). If someone really cares about you and learns that this issue bothers you, they will stop teasing you. If they don’t stop, it might be time to find new friends.
Focus your attention on something in the room that is non-threatening, like a clock, poster, or even a crack on the wall. Think about the details of that thing, and then begin practicing deep breathing techniques. Breathe slowly and deeply, counting to three during each inhale and exhale. Focus on the feelings of the air filling up your chest and leaving your body. Imagine stress and anxiety leaving in your breath. If the embarrassing situation is something planned (such as a speech or meeting your significant other’s parents), try to do something relaxing right before it begins. Many stage performers have pre-show rituals that help them to focus and get rid of last minute stage fright. Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, for example, gets a massage and says a prayer before every show. [19] X Research source
Try explaining why the situation happened. For instance, say “I am so sorry I called you the wrong name! It is because so-and-so has been on my mind this week. “[21] X Research source You can also try asking for help. If you spill something or trip on the ground, ask an onlooker to help you out. Instead of laughing at your mistake, they become invested in a solution to the problem. [22] X Research source
Studies show that using humor to offset embarrassing situations is the most effective solution, so learn to laugh at yourself. You can make a joke if you’re quick on your feet (for example, if you spill coffee on a report during a meeting, you might say, “I hope there wasn’t anything important in there!”), but if not, just smile and say, “Well, that was awkward!"[23] X Research source
If your fear of becoming embarrassed or being judged by others interferes with day to day activities or makes it hard for you to enjoy social life, you might have a disorder called social phobia (sometimes known as social anxiety disorder). While most people experience embarrassment if they have to give a public speech or if they trip in front of a crowd, people with social phobia might be embarrassed by simple everyday things like ordering at a restaurant or eating in public. Symptoms of social phobia usually emerge around puberty. [25] X Trustworthy Source National Institute of Mental Health Informational website from U. S. government focused on the understanding and treatment of mental illness. Go to source There are several treatment options for people suffering from social phobia, including psychotherapy or medication. Talk to your doctor to get a referral to a therapist or psychologist. [26] X Trustworthy Source National Institute of Mental Health Informational website from U. S. government focused on the understanding and treatment of mental illness. Go to source
