What is shyness?
Shyness means to feel a little scared when you’re around other people. Just about everybody feels shy sometimes. If you’re the new kid in class or your great-aunt Betty wants to give you a big hug, it can make you feel shy. Nobody sits around and says, “Well, I think I’ll be shy today.” It is just something that happens. It can just sneak up on you. You might feel fine practicing your soccer kicks, but you feel nervous when the coach comes over to give you a few pointers. But being shy isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s OK if it takes you a while to feel comfortable with new people and new situations. In fact, it can even be helpful to be a little shy. When you’re shy, you may spend a little extra time observing the scene before jumping right into it. And you’re unlikely to talk to strangers, which you shouldn’t do anyway!
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.
