Dr. Jordan Peterson: How to Overcome Social Anxiety (1 Simple Method)

Exploring Jordan Peterson's insights on social anxiety. He emphasizes the tendency to hunch over as a defense mechanism of socially anxious people and the resulting self-focused thoughts that intensify social anxiety. The defense mechanism of trying to remain unnoticed is compared to the experience of socially anxious individuals in school, where they aim to evade being called upon by teachers. Dr. Jordan Peterson emphasizes that this self-protective posture leads to self-focused thoughts such as concerns about others' opinions, personal awkwardness, and excessive sweating. This internalization of negative thoughts amplifies anxiety.

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I acknowledge the challenge of simply "stopping" self-centered thoughts, drawing a parallel with the initial stages of meditation, where attempting to halt thinking often results in a flood of thoughts. Instead, Peterson suggests adopting an observational approach towards thoughts, particularly in social anxiety situations.

The central advice shared in this video is to shift focus from oneself to others. By actively observing and analyzing people's facial expressions and body language, one's thoughts naturally gravitate toward external cues rather than internalizing negative self-perceptions. This redirection of attention taps into human nature's inclination to decipher others' emotions and thoughts, even if it happens unconsciously.

To support this claim, I invite you to assess your ability to interpret the my poses and gestures. You'll notice that you possess a natural aptitude for reading non-verbal cues. In contrast, when attention is diverted elsewhere during a conversation, disconnections occur due to a lack of attentiveness, similar to disharmonious notes in a melody.

I conclude by offering two practical tips to alleviate social anxiety. Firstly, Peterson suggests actively looking at others to prevent internalizing negative thoughts about oneself. Secondly, the importance of adopting confident posture, irrespective of one's inner feelings, is highlighted. Standing tall, with shoulders back, chest out, and head held high, while wearing a smile, helps project confidence. I encourage you to persevere, emphasizing that even though it may not feel like it at first, YOU are capable of overcoming social anxiety...yes...YOU!

Full clip of Dr. Jordan Peterson's lecture regarding social anxiety: https://youtu.be/_NQGQImrpx4

My book “10 Minutes to Feel Less Anxious: How to Be Proactive With Your Mental Health and Anxiety” is now available to order now at https://feellessanxious.com

Watch my TEDx talk about social anxiety: https://youtu.be/g3Cyi3LxdP0

Get my 3 Steps to Taking Back Control From Social Anxiety (for free): https://www.socialanxietykyle.com/3-steps-to-social-confidence

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Medical Disclaimer: I (Kyle Mitchell) do not provide a diagnosis and my advice/tips/strategies are not a substitute for your therapist, doctor, or any medications you may be currently taking. Basically, I am not a doctor and the advice I give is based on my own experiences and research I have conducted personally.