A Better Understanding of Shyness with Barbara Markway

Shyness is a topic that is fundamental to the introvert conversation but that can be the source of enormous confusion. For so long, people have collapsed the two, assuming that if a person is shy, she must be introverted, or if a person is introverted, he must be shy. The truth is, while they are two different characteristics, there are significant similarities. I’ve asked an expert on shyness, Barbara Markway, Ph.D., to help us tease through the issue.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• Where the confusion between introversion and shyness comes from
• How to shift your perception of shyness
• Tips for the shy introvert: the transformative power of acknowledgment, acceptance, self-talk and small steps
• How to create a more “shy friendly” environment

Be sure to listen all the way to the end for a special giveaway!

Barbara Markway, Ph.D., is a psychologist and author of three books on social anxiety and shyness. Her first book, Dying of Embarrassment: Help for Social Anxiety & Phobia, was named one of the most scientifically valid self-help books in a study published in Professional Psychology, Research and Practice. Her other books are Painfully Shy: How to Overcome Social Anxiety and Reclaim Your Life and Nurturing the Shy Child:  Practical Help for Raising Confident and Socially Skilled Kids and Teens. Barb has appeared on Good Morning America, The Today Show, and the documentary Afraid of People. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, among other national publications, and she’s been heard on radio shows nationwide.

She blogs at http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/shyness-is-nice and http://theselfcompassionproject.com/