i’ve realized that’s true for me too.
no matter how much i try to be outgoing, i’m just not. and it’s not really me when i am. so i just try to be as friendly as possible so people don’t think i’m aloof or a jerk.
but i think it’s possible to not be SO shy, so good luck with that :)

Don’t put yourself down for being shy. I was terribly shy for most of my life, but I had a drastic life-change and how I reacted to the world changed too – I flipped from introvert to extrovert. I’m not saying you should just wait for a sudden change to “improve” your life. As a recovering introvert, I can appreciate the differences in people and there is nothing wrong with you. But I also understand how shy people fill like they’re missing parts of life. If you can, check out the book “The Introvert Advantage” by Marti Olsen Laney – it helped me understand myself – and may have made the transition more possible.