4 Ways To Get Out Of Your Introvert Rut And Grow Your Business

Have you been feeling like you’re stuck in an introvert rut lately? Do you find yourself spending too much time on your own, doing the same things over and over, or feel like you’re holding yourself back?

There are a few things you can do if you’re stuck in an introvert rut and we’re going to help you figure them out!

1) Get out there, but within your comfort zone

One of the best ways to get out of a rut is by pushing yourself to try new things, however, this can be a bit much for the deeply introverted. Branch out and try new things in new places, maybe hanging out with a larger group of people, but do so within the confines of your comfort zone.

Go to your favorite coffee shop and order your favorite drink at their busiest time of day. Go to a party you wouldn’t typically but hang in the corner with a close friend. The key to this exercise is finding a balance; you want to push yourself, but not too far.

2) Meet new people on your terms

Along the same lines, you want to meet new people within your comfort zone too. Spark up a conversation with a friendly person at your favorite store, restaurant, or bar. This will help you meet someone that’s most likely like-minded without pushing yourself to the point of discomfort.

Push yourself to go somewhere where you might meet a new friend with whom you have common interests. This could make it easier for you to mix things up and get out of your rut without pushing yourself to the point of discomfort.

3) Push yourself to participate in something new

Doing something entirely new to you can be a good way to break yourself out of your rut, but for a lot of introverts, this is highly uncomfortable and maybe even anxiety-inducing. You have to push yourself to do something new that you’re comfortable with.

If you’re more comfortable going out to a game night at a brewery or a book club that let you be in a smaller group, push yourself to do that. If you’re more comfortable going to a larger party where you can hide in the crowd if you need to, then that needs to be the something new you try.

4) Drive yourself to bust out of your shell

A great way to break out of an introverted rut is by pushing yourself to get out of your shell. This is another exercise that might prove to be very uncomfortable for introverts, so it may not be for everyone.

Pushing yourself to try new activities that cause you to push the limits of introversion can help you get out of that rut. Try branching out to new small groups where the attention has to be on you at some point, like a book club, creative writing group, local bridge game, or a small jam session among other things. This will help you break out of your shell and push past this introversion and the rut you’re in.

Getting yourself out of an introvert rut can be quite difficult and the more introverted you are, the harder it becomes. Practice pushing yourself to do new things but within the confines of your comfort zone. This will help you get out of your rut without risking pushing you past your limitations.

If you still find this difficult, we recommend discussing it with your therapist. They’ll be able to help guide you to more specific and custom exercises that will better help you get out of this rut without hurting yourself in any way.

Live - Love - Laugh more...

~Angie

The Importance of Self-Esteem In Business

We spend a lot of time in our lives judging things. Is this right? Does that work? Is this a good idea? But, the most important judgment you make is when you judge yourself. That judgment is known as your self-esteem. And, enhancing your self-esteem and nurturing its health is vital for your psychological growth.

Understanding Self-Esteem

When you emotionally and cognitive evaluate your own worth and abilities, you are exercising your self-esteem. How high or low you judge yourself has a tremendous influence on how you think and feel as well as how you act. Psychologists who study human behavior and cognition agree that self-esteem is a helpful tool for their work because it can help to predict outcomes including satisfaction in relationships, happiness, overall achievement, and even criminal behavior.

What you need to remember about self-esteem is that it actually has very little connection to your actual ability or talent. You can be really good at something and still have low self-esteem about yourself in this area.

The experiences in your life play a vital role in the development of your self-esteem. Parents, guardians, and siblings are the primary source of your experiences when you are young and therefore have a considerable influence over your esteem development. How parents speak to children, give and withhold love, acknowledge achievements, and set expectations all play a role in forming your self-esteem from a very early age.

But your self-esteem continues to develop throughout your life. Your successes and failures, no matter your age, inform how harshly or kindly you judge yourself. Each of us has an inner voice that repeats the many messages we have heard throughout our lives, reassuring or punishing us for our various actions.

Other factors that influence your self-esteem over time include the success or failure of various relationships, your physical appearance, your socioeconomic status, and any mental health issues you may have.

How Self-Esteem Affects Your Life

When you have higher self-esteem, you are more likely to have more lasting and healthy relationships. You can trust others and value their input in your life. High self-esteem is also correlated with emotional stability, conscientiousness, and being extroverted.

Low self-esteem can lead to problems with depression or anxiety, social isolation, and loneliness. Those with a low judgment of themselves are more likely to feel chronic stress, which can lead to physical health issues. Low self-esteem can cause problems in your interactions with other people, including romantic partners, friends, and colleagues. Those who struggle with their self-esteem can have troubles professionally, as they try to compensate for their low sense of self.

Some common signs of a person with low self-esteem include being a perfectionist, blaming yourself for everything, comparing yourself to others, refusing to accept compliments, and being afraid of failure. All of these can have severe consequences for your behavior.

In some people, low self-esteem results in self-destructive or self-sabotaging behaviors. Substance abuse is higher among those with low self-esteem, as are actions that allow them to avoid disappointment or potential hurt.
 
The downward self-esteem spiral is a vicious cycle. You have negative opinions of yourself, which leads to forming negative expectations about what will happen in your life. When these things come true, it reinforces your poor self-esteem, increasing your chances of failure. This leads to blaming yourself and even lower esteem.

Final Thoughts

Having a higher sense of self-esteem is vital to accomplishing your goals in life, being happy with what you have, and learning to respect yourself and your talents. While some of our esteem comes from early life experiences, you continue to evolve this construct over time, which means it’s never too late to improve your self-esteem.

Live - Love - Laugh more...

~Angie