Dear questioner,
From what you've said, it seems like you're trying to please others. As an introvert, you don't want to take the initiative to express yourself in some situations. You feel like you should be more practical and do real things, rather than things that please others. There are a few reasons for this:
We're all imperfect, and if we're introverted and don't want to show our true feelings, we may believe that we reject hypocrisy.
It seems a bit hypocritical to do what you should do just to please others. You want to express your resistance to hypocrisy with practical actions.
We all have things we don't want to do or can't do. It's up to us to decide what we're going to do about it. Sometimes we avoid taking the initiative to communicate because we're afraid of what the other person might say. We tell ourselves that we can't do it, that we can't do it. But we understand the reasoning and know that we can do this thing. We can choose not to do it, and we choose to avoid it.
③: [Unable to live one's true self] Not expressing yourself from the heart, feeling like your expression is being defined by others, caring too much about what others think, being sensitive, feeling like you'll be defined by what you do or a certain label – all of these are psychological states that prevent you from expressing yourself.
How can we solve this? My advice is:
1: [Live your life to the fullest and stay true to yourself] If you want to live your life to the fullest, you've got to stay true to yourself. This initial intention has to be guarded with awareness. It doesn't matter what era you're in or what system you're under: only you can take care of your inner self. Don't be afraid of other people's stares or comments. We can't decide what other people think of us, but we can decide our own initial intention. I want to do something, I can do it, but I don't need to be responsible for things that aren't mine, so I won't do them. Hypocrisy and sincerity are opposites. Living the life you want is the most important thing.
It's important to have confidence in yourself and your abilities. When you avoid a situation, you're essentially telling yourself, "I don't believe it, I can't do it." The less confidence you have, the less initiative you'll take to solve the problem. This can lead to fear, whether it's fear of facing the problem, fear of the outcome, or fear of the future. However, regardless of how afraid you are, the result will be a reflection of your mindset. Building confidence is crucial. If you want to make a change, it's essential to expand your horizons and enrich your cultural background. Being well-informed gives you the courage to face challenges head-on. With confidence, you can tackle problems with more courage and find solutions.
③: [Learn to be independent and cultivate your personality] It's important to think for yourself, develop your personality, maintain your mental and personal independence, and not rely on others. You should also learn how to solve any problems that come your way and think about the process and outcome of things. If we can't be consistent in what we do, it means our personality is not yet complete. The more we avoid doing the things we want to do, the less independent we become, and the more we will just continue to avoid things. So we can learn some psychological knowledge, read books on the Yixinli platform, help ourselves improve, and become a more complete person.
I hope this helps the person who asked the question.


Comments
I totally get what you're saying. It's like there's this invisible barrier that stops me from doing things I know could help build relationships at work. Even though I want to connect with my colleagues, the thought of offering snacks or participating in social rituals feels too overwhelming. Yet, when I do find the courage, it's disheartening when the effort isn't acknowledged.
It's a tough spot to be in, especially starting out so late in life. Sometimes I feel like I'm on the outside looking in, and these social norms just seem too daunting to break into. But maybe it's not about changing who I am; perhaps there are subtler ways to show kindness and form connections without putting myself in the spotlight.
The desire to contribute positively but feeling unable to act on it is frustrating. Like you mentioned, wanting to assist others or share items without drawing attention to oneself can stem from a deepseated shyness. The idea of being seen as someone who's trying too hard or seeking approval can be paralyzing. I think it's important to remember that small gestures can still have an impact, even if they go unnoticed at first.
Starting to feel more comfortable in the workplace takes time, especially for someone who's introverted. It's okay to set your own pace and find methods that align with your personality. Maybe instead of forcing yourself into situations that make you uncomfortable, you can gradually ease into them. Building confidence slowly might help you eventually feel more at ease with sharing and interacting.
Reflecting on why we hesitate to engage in these activities can be eyeopening. For me, it's often about fear of judgment or rejection. But realizing that everyone has their own insecurities can be comforting. Perhaps focusing on genuine interactions rather than worrying about making a good impression can lead to more authentic connections. Over time, those true moments tend to resonate more deeply with people anyway.