This is the exact article I came in here to post. It does an excellent job of explaining the mind of an introvert to a largely extroverted world. I enjoy going out to bars and meeting new people, but when I’m done I’m done. Getting over shyness can be done with practice. But I don’t think you can change where you fall on the introvert/extrovert scale. At least I haven’t been able to.
Don’t underestimate small talk.
Not evry conversation you have with someone (Especialy some one new)has to be a mind blowing/mind stimulating experience.
Sure it’s trite; but talk about the weather or talk about the daily grind. Sooner or later you and the person you’re engaging will hit on something with a little more meat on it. Think of it as a stepping ladder. A way to get from point A to point B.
For example: Let’s say you had to go to the store. All you needed was a stinking bottle of milk. And wouldn’t you know it; every frick’n check out line was a mile long. It took you nearly a half hour to get out of there for one lousy bottle of milk.
Now that right there; most shy people wouldn’t think of bringing that up in a conversation. They feel it’s too mundane or to stupid to talk about. Which in reality, it probably is, but it’s also probably going to spark a conversation with someone else about how they met Bill Clinton in a grocery store way back in the 80’s. (or some crazy shit like that.)
Also, keep in mind, that if a conversation doesn’t go anywhere, it’s not always your fault. Some folks just don’t know how to conversate. Either that or they just don’t want to.