MY TREATMENT
While doing my research and other various reads, I came across a book not knowing it would serve any purpose to my experiment. Gretchen Rubin did a yearlong experiment in hopes of making herself feel more happy. She called the project 'The Happiness Project'. She later wrote the book about her experience called, The Happiness Project: Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Mornings, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun, where she states, “By acting more friendly, I made myself feel more friendly” (Rubin 157).
I began to really think about this quote in terms of my own experiment. What if by acting a certain way, I felt a certain way? I pondered on this statement for quite some time. It made me think if I was really shy, or was I just too lazy to take the initiative to put myself out there. I was so scared of what others might think of me that I held myself back. I would rather be shy than be rejected. However, whenever I forced myself into public situations, I always felt better after it was over. It made me happy. I enjoyed giving people compliments. I enjoyed holding the door open for people and responding in the “thank you” or “you’re welcome” that deemed appropriate. I decided to use Rubin’s motto for my own, only changing a few of her words. By acting less shy, I made myself feel less shy and friendlier as a result. And not only was I friendlier, but I was happier with myself too. While I do believe that I followed the ideas of overcoming anxiety through a self-help strategy, I took my own approach. I know that my approach to overcoming my shyness has not been scientifically proven, but I believe that my own method worked best for me in my situation, all by following Rubin's simple motto.
*Photo found using Google Images
Along with writing a fantastic book, Rubin blogged about her experience and still continues to blog today. Her blog can be found at:
http://www.happiness-project.com
This just goes to show that every situation in different. Not every case is the same and not every treatment plan is the same. Don't be scared to try something new when trying to overcome a social phobia! No matter what the situation is, do it for you and no one else. Do want makes you happy. Overcoming my shyness made me a happier person. The way I saw myself was not how other people saw me. Here is an amazing video to motivate anyone to be true to themselves, to love themselves, and make themselves happy.
http://realbeautysketches.dove.us
No matter what happens in any trial in life, while doing this experiment I learned to never give up. At first my experiment wasn't going how I expected it too. I was disappointed things weren't going how I assumed they would. However, I stuck with the project and I'm so glad I did. As a result I feel less shy and I feel as if I gained more enjoyment out of life and the little things many people take for granted. I feel happy and excited to take on everyday challenges, not scared or discouraged. I am a happier me.
*Video Provided by YouTube.
I began to really think about this quote in terms of my own experiment. What if by acting a certain way, I felt a certain way? I pondered on this statement for quite some time. It made me think if I was really shy, or was I just too lazy to take the initiative to put myself out there. I was so scared of what others might think of me that I held myself back. I would rather be shy than be rejected. However, whenever I forced myself into public situations, I always felt better after it was over. It made me happy. I enjoyed giving people compliments. I enjoyed holding the door open for people and responding in the “thank you” or “you’re welcome” that deemed appropriate. I decided to use Rubin’s motto for my own, only changing a few of her words. By acting less shy, I made myself feel less shy and friendlier as a result. And not only was I friendlier, but I was happier with myself too. While I do believe that I followed the ideas of overcoming anxiety through a self-help strategy, I took my own approach. I know that my approach to overcoming my shyness has not been scientifically proven, but I believe that my own method worked best for me in my situation, all by following Rubin's simple motto.
*Photo found using Google Images
Along with writing a fantastic book, Rubin blogged about her experience and still continues to blog today. Her blog can be found at:
http://www.happiness-project.com
This just goes to show that every situation in different. Not every case is the same and not every treatment plan is the same. Don't be scared to try something new when trying to overcome a social phobia! No matter what the situation is, do it for you and no one else. Do want makes you happy. Overcoming my shyness made me a happier person. The way I saw myself was not how other people saw me. Here is an amazing video to motivate anyone to be true to themselves, to love themselves, and make themselves happy.
http://realbeautysketches.dove.us
No matter what happens in any trial in life, while doing this experiment I learned to never give up. At first my experiment wasn't going how I expected it too. I was disappointed things weren't going how I assumed they would. However, I stuck with the project and I'm so glad I did. As a result I feel less shy and I feel as if I gained more enjoyment out of life and the little things many people take for granted. I feel happy and excited to take on everyday challenges, not scared or discouraged. I am a happier me.
*Video Provided by YouTube.