• Add nature into daily challenges
• Add ideas article for things people can do to get outside of themselves hobbies volunteering and nature
• Ask questions on bigger than yourself from above (flip) – finding meaning
• Organise more formal socials
• Accept can’t avoid avoidance, accept anxiety there and normal to a degree, surrender by dropping safety behaviours, surrender to process

• Open to something bigger than yourself (it can be helpful to look for meaning in your anxiety…)
  • If your social anx was a voice what would it be asking? If it was sent to help you step into something new, what would that new life be?
    • Maybe these or similar Q’s are it: if a friend was watching over you and your social anx was a sign of a change they want you to make, what is it they’d like you to do?
      • Spark a flip in some
    • What is social anxiety holding you back from doing? What would you do differently if social anxiety want there? (Positive snap)
• People, environments, experiences that nourish your sense of aliveness
• Find connection and belonging with your tribe
• Find something – anything – that sustains you and makes you want to fight another day

Acceptance and social anxiety

Acceptance makes the path to overcoming social anxiety easier. When we struggle with social anxiety, we often try to fight against our anxious thoughts and feelings. This can actually make them stronger and more persistent. Acceptance, on the other hand, involves allowing our thoughts and feelings to be present without judgement or resistance.

By accepting our anxious thoughts and feelings, we are not saying that we agree with them or that we want them to be there. Instead, we are simply acknowledging that they are there and that they are a part of our experience. This can help us to detach from our anxious thoughts and feelings and to see them for what they are – just thoughts and feelings.

Acceptance can also help us to reduce the amount of time and energy we spend ruminating on our anxious thoughts. When we ruminate, we go over and over our anxious thoughts in our head, trying to figure out why we are having them and what they mean. This can make our anxiety worse. By accepting our anxious thoughts, we can let them go more easily and focus on the present moment.

In addition, acceptance can help us to be more open to new experiences. When we are afraid of being judged or rejected, we may avoid social situations. However, by accepting that we may not always be liked or accepted, we can be more willing to put ourselves out there and take risks. This can help us to build confidence and reduce our social anxiety.

Overall, acceptance is a key component of overcoming social anxiety. By accepting our anxious thoughts and feelings, we can reduce their power over us and live more fulfilling lives.

For example, instead of thinking “I’m going to mess up,” you could think “I might mess up, but that’s okay.” Or Instead of thinking “Everyone is judging me,” you could think “Some people might judge me, but that’s not everyone.”

By practicing acceptance, you can learn to live with social anxiety without letting it control your life.

Surrender and social anxiety

In the context of social anxiety, surrender does not mean giving up or admitting defeat. Rather, it is about letting go of the need to control our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in social situations. When we try to control our social anxiety, we often end up fighting against it, which can actually make it worse. Surrender, on the other hand, involves allowing our anxiety to be present without trying to change it.

As social creatures, we rely on connection with others – and the world around us – to thrive. Studies have shown that social connection has a profound impact on our well-being, while isolation can have detrimental consequences. By surrendering ourselves to this, we can find greater support and ease on our journey to healing.

For those who lack social connections or ‘deep’ connection, a supportive group can provide a powerful source of reconnection. While it may take time to fully experience the benefits of social connection on an intuitive level, engaging in the process with a supportive group can help us to experience these benefits firsthand.

As with all things related to social anxiety, this is easy to grasp intellectually, but not intuitively. However, by embarking on this journey with humble curiosity and openness, together with your social support group, you will gradually begin to feel the profound impact of connection and belonging.