During the early years most children tend to be shy, or at least reserved, so I felt quite comfortable at the fact that I was not very talkative. In fact, childhood is usually a stage of developing self-concept more than social maturity (Gross 229-235). Even though I would rarely talk, I was very observant, and this helped me with my academic progress. So instead of being a fluent talker, I became a dedicated listener.
My habit of observation aided me in staying connected with the world. It was also the source of my creativity, and creativity has been the process I have used to deal with the specific issue of shyness.
Creativity seemed to be my savior in helping me communicate with others. At first, I used my creativity in my art classes. My teachers were very helpful because they noticed my high level of interest and encouraged me. I realize that drawing as well as painting and writing were the most comfortable forms of creativity for me because they allowed me to work alone. It was obvious that I worked better alone than in groups, and this is still true for me today.
Creativity really helps in overcoming shyness not just because it allows you to communicate with others but also because it gives you the opportunity to communicate with yourself (Warren 35-58). For someone who is shy it can be confusing to socialize because they are more likely to be influenced rather than influence others. This is because the other person tends to be more expressive than you. Doing individual creative activities such as drawing or writing can really help you get to know who you really are, who you want to be, how you want to live, and give you a much stronger personality. Having a stronger personality also builds your confidence, and you are then ready to get to know others once you have gotten to know yourself first.
Writing has been my favorite form of creativity as a process that I have used to deal with the specific issue of shyness. I feel that because I am shy I often do not express myself sufficiently to others verbally. Instead, I collect my thoughts and then present it as a written article. Writing is the quickest, easiest and most manageable form of creativity for me. For anyone who is shy I would recommend that they do something creative because even though you have trouble approaching others, others will approach you and be genuinely interested in knowing who you are. Despite being shy, I have been able to develop myself creatively, and creativity is like my therapy in overcoming not only shyness but also many other problems in life.
Works Cited
Gross, Richard. Psychology: The Science Of Mind And Behavior. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1987.Warren, Bernie. Using The Creative Arts In Therapy: A Practical Introduction. New York: Routledge, 1993.