I usually pass up all opportunities to talk to girls I like in order to avoid coming off as awkward or creepy. The problem is, I feel like in most situations it IS awkward to just start talking to a girl. Guys are usually expected to only talk to a girl when they have some legitimate reason to be doing so, and it is considered weird if a guy just goes and starts talking to a girl because he thinks she's cute. Lots of guys seem to be able to come up with some clever excuse and talk to girls they like without seeming awkward, but I can just never seem to do this. The only things I have been able to come up with in the past have been really lame, like I would ask them something pointless or stupid and make a fool out of myself. And of course, it usually just ends at that. So in most situations, I just keep my mouth shut.

Does anyone have any experience or insight into this kind of problem? I am getting really frustrated and really desperate. I just had another missed and possibly ruined opportunity at the gym all because of this confusion and social awkwardness that I'm suffering from.