Sometimes, in relationships—whether friendships, family, work, or dating—something doesn’t sit right. Someone cancels plans last minute without apology. A friend jokes at your expense in a way that feels uncomfortable. A colleague constantly interrupts you in meetings. When you express discomfort, the response might be: “That’s just how people are.” “Everyone does it.” “You’re overthinking…
Step into a classroom, a workplace, or a social gathering, and you’ll often see a pattern: those who speak the loudest, the fastest, and the most confidently tend to attract the most attention. Success is frequently tied to visibility. Job descriptions ask for ‘confident and outgoing’ individuals with ‘strong communication skills’. Schools praise students who…
The Quiet Pressure to Be More Have you ever been told to “speak up more” or “put yourself out there”? Maybe you’ve felt the expectation to be louder, more social, or more outgoing to fit in. We know that, over time, those messages can make you question whether you’re enough just as you are. Many…
In a society that often equates confidence with loudness and sociability with success, those of us who are naturally quiet can feel out of place. This cultural bias can lead to feelings of inadequacy and heightened self-consciousness, contributing to social anxiety. This response, while distressing, is not abnormal or unwarranted. In fact, social anxiety can…