Hey :) You sound like I used to be many years ago. I'm still naturally a shy person (INFJ here!) but I decided I wanted to become more comfortable with myself. FOR myself and not to impress others or anything.

It started with ignoring the urge to distract myself in social situations ;). I knew instinctively that people weren't looking at me or paying attention to the lonely person in the corner and it was all in my head. You have to try and put yourself in others shoes in those situations. They may sort of notice you but they're more involved with the good time they're having.

So I would practice reveling in my own discomfort. Or rather, ignoring it. What does a confident person do? Because I wanted to BE that! So I would look up. Watch people. Smile at them if they looked at me and basically just pretend this is exactly what I wanted to be doing. Sitting here alone and observing. Forcing myself to embrace the awkwardness of it all.

To my surprise it was way less hard than I thought. When you're more aware of how unaware people are of your discomfort (although there is the one off where there's an empathetic person who will find you and try to strike up a conversation because they've been in your situation) it will gradually change how you think of the situation. You have to make the effort though. Whenever you find yourself uncomfortable just ask yourself what confidence looks like, sounds like, feels like. And fake it until you make it, basically. It worked wonders for me! And like I said, not as hard as you might think if you're willing to reach deep down and let yourself find some sort of love for yourself and tell yourself you're okay with who you are. Cheesy, I know. But true.

And if that doesn't work, I even went as far as to channel it into anger. I don't fucking give a crap what people think! I'm going to be who I am and everyone else can go to hell. That sort of thing :). Anger can be a confidence booster too. And truthfully, I might actually BE a little angry...at myself for being so shy or at others for making me feel uncomfortable. Whatever I could muster up.

Anyways, I hope this helps!
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