Thanks so much for the encouragement!

Today I greeted two people at school! So huge for me. Normally, I sneak past people so they don't see me, or I avoid eye contact and pretend not to see them.

I was terrified, but I kept thinking "approach, approach, approach." I imagined myself filled up with confidence instead of fear. I smiled, consciously made myself stand straighter, and stopped fidgeting. I made small talk, and it was nice instead of scary. It was a way better payoff than if I had acted on my fear and run away. This was my first "live" opposite action, and I will definitely try it again.

One girl said, "I know you're in my other class, but I can never catch your eye to say hi." Eek! No matter how small I try to make myself, I'm not actually becoming invisible.

Giving in to my fears isn't avoiding taking a risk; it's taking a different risk. I'm risking sending a message I don't want to send, and I'm missing the chance to have people I like in my life.

I'm so determined to change! Going to keep challenging these feelings until they loosen up their hold a bit.