it’s crucial to be able to meet new people

Your life will always be to a large extent what you make of it.
The mold to your success and fortune are in your hands.

You cannot do everything, but you can do something.

You choose your thoughts and actions.
Only you can find success.

Nobody can do it for you.
Nobody will do it for you.
You have to make it happen.

If you take responsibility for your actions,you can live your dreams.

Those who had a fixed or stable mindset (they see their success as only due to their abilities) who were shy fared less well in meeting new people, appearing anxious and awkward, even after five minutes of interacting.

Those who had a growth mindset (seeing their success as a work in progress that improves with practice) were similarly uncomfortable during the first five minutes, but after that, they appeared more likeable and sociable.

Why did this happen?

The growth-minded people were able to see the situation as a challenge, whereas the fixed-minded people were focused on not making mistakes. They were more focused on themselves and how they were coming across, making them more insecure and self conscious.

What this means for you if you’re shy is three-fold:

1) By no means does being shy mean that you cannot be skilled in meeting new people.

2) Growth-mindset is important in becoming more confident. Look at the situation as an evolving challenge rather than a judgment of your worth as a person. Remember that a fixed mindset drains confidence over-time, whereas the growth mindset helps you build it.

3) If you are shy, you need to stay with the social situation long enough that you get more comfortable—in this study it was around 5 minutes. When you stick with it, you will soon show your natural likeability.