A state of overthinking and nervousness is always a staple whenever you are around people.

Especially whenever you are around men.

Before you know it, you are doing everything in your power to avoid eye contact, as you are too worried about coming across as too weird.

It’s an automatic reaction you are guilty of so as to avoid awkward moments that cause embarrassment.

There have been several moments where a guy attempted to talk to you and you struggled.

Not only with eye contact, but your whole body too.

You are suddenly overheating and sweating.

Parts of your body start to shake and fidget.

Your legs feel heavy as though they are incapable of supporting your whole body.

Before you know it, you can’t think of what to say in response to something he asked.

You’re overthinking.

A simple question from a guy who is showing an interest in you seems like a crossword puzzle or mathematics equation.

Whatever you say in response is somewhat muted, causing him to repeatedly ask you to say what you just did again.

All you want to do is get out of there and hide in a cave somewhere.

Unfortunately, this is a constant occurrence whenever you are in social situations.

Being socially awkward has made it impossible for you to get a date.

Regardless of how promising an interaction begins, the social awkwardness always kicks in and ultimately ruins everything.

By the end of the laborious conversation, there is no request for a date.

It’s an end result you are all too familiar with.

Although being socially awkward has historically kept you from getting a date, there is a solution to overcoming it.

The first step is to work on building your confidence.

Use your hobbies and interests to do this.

Join interest groups populated by people who share the same passion for the interest.

Since you have common interests with these people, it will be much easier for you to feel comfortable around these people.

Make new friends with them.

Expanding your social network is monumental in building your confidence.

It inserts people with different personalities into your social network.

When there is someone new in your social circle who has an extroverted personality, being around them allows you to pick up on some of their mannerisms.

This is so different from your usual crowd of friends, several of whom may be just as socially awkward as you.

With new friends acquired from the interest groups you are a part of, you are exposed to different personality types.

The effect can be infectious.

You will learn more about social cues and better ways to communicate through the personalities you befriend who are more extroverted.

Over time, you begin to incorporate these social behaviors into your life.

All of this has a very positive effect in building your confidence.

Additionally, as you are building this new circle of friends with eclectic personalities, work on your daily social game.

Make it routine to make eye contact with strangers you see as you go about your day.

Since these are just regular people of any age and gender, doing this exercise won’t be anywhere as intimidating as making eye contact with men in social venues such as nightclubs or bars.

Start with one person a week.

The older person you are sitting next to on the bus or subway on your way to work.

The middle-aged woman who is standing behind or in front of you while you are in line to purchase coffee in the morning or a salad for lunch.

Do this with an additional person each week.

With time, it gets easier.

As your confidence builds, throw in a compliment.

A compliment is a catalyst for instigating small talk.

Giving a stranger a harmless compliment has a physiological and psychological effect.

It releases feel-good hormones within them that put them in a happy mood.

This mood can inspire the stranger to initiate small talk with you.

With more practice in these scenarios, you improve your communication skills.

All of the effort you have been putting into overcoming your social awkwardness over these weeks and months pays off.

Thanks to the interest groups, making eye contact, complimenting strangers, and engaging in small talk with strangers, your confidence is at an all-time high.

This means that the next time you go to a social venue such as a nightclub, birthday party, pool party, bar, lounge, etc., you are no longer uncomfortable.

This makes for better conversation and a guy who is asking you out on a date by the end of a conversation.