[laaph]

I wish I learned to take care of my health at a younger age. Of course, I'm overdue to go to the dentist, so perhaps I'm still struggling with that.

I wish I had learned not to have a fear of other people at a younger age. It's easy to say that I was "shy". I think it went much further than that. I'm in a place where I don't speak the common language, and let me tell you how hard it is to learn a language when you are "shy".

I wish I learned to recognize abusive behaviors and asshole-ism much earlier than I did. I occasionally shock people by telling a story where awful stuff happened and at the time I didn't think anything was wrong.

I wish I learned whatever it is that makes people want to hire you in interviews. I've been through thousands of interviews, and the only jobs I've ever gotten are ones where I wasn't interviewed. Even when recommended for jobs, where I'm perfect for the position and the job is perfect for me, I've never gotten hired that way. Most jobs don't easily let you in the back door; usually you still have to go through an interview process. I still don't have this one sorted out, even if the previous two I have down much better.

[badpun]

> I wish I learned whatever it is that makes people want to hire you in interviews. I've been through thousands of interviews, and the only jobs I've ever gotten are ones where I wasn't interviewed. Even when recommended for jobs, where I'm perfect for the position and the job is perfect for me, I've never gotten hired that way. Most jobs don't easily let you in the back door; usually you still have to go through an interview process. I still don't have this one sorted out, even if the previous two I have down much better.

Since this is probably connected to the "shyness" issue you mentioned, maybe try getting a good psychotherapist? It's probably one of the issues that could be greatly improved with external help and coaching/guidance.

[chrisco255]

I used to be shy when I was a teenager and only started to break out of my shell once I got sales and customer service jobs. These jobs taught me how to interact with a wide range of people. And my success as a sales person was literally tied to my people skills, so I learned that way.

I would say, anything you're irrationally afraid of (that isn't literally dangerous), you should consciously seek out and force yourself into situations.

I remember when I was younger I was conscious of the fact that I was socially awkward, and the awareness of that just fed into my social interactions.

[DecayingOrganic]

As another shy, socially awkward person, I must say that getting professional help is definitely worth it.

If you find that you can't break this wall yourself, don't be afraid to ask for help.

[fetus8]

By professional help do you mean therapy?

[DecayingOrganic]

Sure, including but not limited to only therapy. For my case, Cognitive Therapy helped me a great deal with both depression and social anxiety.

It's just when you are not social, you may be reluctant to ask for help when it's actually needed the most.

[sidcool]

100 times these. It's very difficult to understand some things at a younger age. I wish I can explain these things to my younger self. But what's gone is gone, and the only way is forward.

But having said that I would like to help my younger family members to understand these things, but they act exactly as I did. Not sure how can I communicate it to them.