Some people welcome new experiences and new people. They look forward to any opportunity to socialize. They're often the first to introduce themselves and they jump into a conversation easily. Other people are quiet and shy, and prefer to warm up slowly to new people or situations. Shyness is an emotion that affects how a person feels and behaves around others. Shyness can mean feeling uncomfortable, self-conscious, nervous, bashful, timid, or insecure. People who feel shy sometimes notice physical sensations like blushing or feeling speechless, shaky, or breathless. Shyness is the opposite of being at ease with yourself around others. When people feel shy, they might hesitate to say or do something because they're feeling unsure of themselves and they're not ready to be noticed.
Having friends makes us happier and healthier—in fact, being socially connected is answer to our mental and emotional fitness. Yet many of us are bashful and socially introverted. We feel bulky around unfamiliar people, unsure of can you repeat that? to say, or worried about can you repeat that? others might think of us. This can cause us to avoid collective situations, cut ourselves off from others, and gradually become isolated and abandoned. But loneliness is nothing to air ashamed about.