How to be less self-conscious.

Getting into some tactics I use for reducing self-consciousness, social anxiety, and caring too much about others' opinions. Some of this comes down to personality, but hopefully you'll find this useful in some way.

I thought I'd go with a "spotlight" look because this topic is oftentimes referred to as "The Spotlight Effect" - but then it kept looking like a standup special, so I just leaned into that. Sorry if the sound effects are a bit much. 😆

DAY 29 of daily videos! :)

[SteveAbrahall]

Cats are good with the whole self-conscious issue - they are totaly them selves! :-)

[violet]

As an autistic person - we talk a lot about "masking" in order to blend in. It can be a beneficial skill, but it is also tremendously exhausting and in extreme cases leaves you feeling as though you don't even have an authentic self under the mask. It's about balance and a compromise between being able to do things like have a job, socialize, and survive the grocery store while being true to yourself.

[JonJosephKuhn]

I’ve used a laugh track, applause track, and a spotlight in my last two videos and I felt so weird doing it. Seeing you taking the same approach makes me feel less alone in my weirdness. 😂 Haha thanks. I love it.

In regards to other people’s options. As my father in law would say, “fuck em”.

[cvdheiden]

Awesome! I join the crowd's standing ovation! 🤩 Lately someone told me 'when you are scared, focus on love'. Same works for self-consciousness: focus on the love, for what you are doing, for your why, for the company you are in, for yourself. There's less space for being afraid or self-conscious when you are busy 'loving your living' 😃

[JonathanS-kizn]

Great video. Being self-conscious is almost a freeze state. It stops one from moving forward and getting on with the business of living life to the full.

[shana]

Your channel is one of my favorites channels on Youtube! Thanks for being honest and unapologetically you! Our society needs more Lefie's!

[bradleyspann]

Thank you Lefie! Your videos help me start my day. Please keep doing what you are doing. Bravo! 🕺🏻👍

[vargavideo]

Discomfort either way - you nailed it.

[gracie]

it only took me 20 years to think this way. Thanks lefie. love when you post

[jehamburg]

Always love your ideas - what you say and how you put them "on the stage". The internet is a better place because of you. ❤️

[amandadaydreamer]

We are all light beings, so shine bright like the diamonds we are! People will notice your light, and so what? Be yourself, shine even brighter and give them a show! You never know who you may inspire to be more themselves by just being you! Love the content as always Lefie!!

[MrRobotman]

The thing I've been self-conscious about recently is where I have lunch at work.
There's a door at the back of our library that leads to two toilets and a shower room. I decided I wanted a private place to have lunch, so I set up a table and a chair in the shower room. The only thing is, I'm becoming super self-conscious about the people who attend the library seeing me leave the toilet area after 30 mins with an entire backpack with my lunch etc in it. Not to mention that I eat in the dark with only the flashlight on my phone so my iPad screen looks better while I'm watching things - so if I leave while others come out of the toilet, they see me leaving a dark little room with a little table and chair... but that never happens because I listen out to make sure that nobody else is there when I leave to avoid any potential awkward interactions.

I can't really tell if there's any problem with all this. If there is, I probably shouldn't care though. Most of my colleagues know and they treat it with a similar kind of "This is probably weird." So we don't openly talk about it either. But I guess at the end of the day, it's just the same old "Who gives a s**t what I do? Even if it is supposedly 'weird', I have the last laugh because I have a nice little cubby hole to eat my lunch every day." ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[AshlieRockwell]

That was awesome! I love all the different things you have been trying out to grow as a person. I don't feel alone because I do the same. Thank you Lefie!

[silly-goose]

Came back to this now in 2023. Just what I needed to hear ❤

[amitroy]

Self consciousness has harmed me so harshly I really feel hurt about it at this point.

[williamstewart]

I love the way you filmed this video, the originality is off the charts.

[ovidiudrobota]

I was toxically shamed since my inception — but unfortunately — I didn't know what it was. I'm painfully self-conscious among people, especially when I interact with them. I have social anxiety, and when I'm about to meet some people, I almost faint (it's similar to a panic attack). I can't make eye contact without making me self-conscious and awkward. I would love to be social, but something within doesn't allow me. I struggle with 'what to say' — whatever I say to people feels forced. Excessively forced. Talking on the phone makes me uncomfortable until I ease into it — it takes about thirty minutes (and sometimes one hour) to become comfortable. I don't understand what's wrong with me and how I ended up there. Both of my parents abandoned me. My father was a violent alcoholic (I was harshly beaten by him for no reason), and my mother was anxious and depressed; she was very distant emotionally. Sometimes I feel like giving up — that toxic sense of shame is so powerful and persistent (I can't explain it).

[DarioCruzII]

Always a pleasure Lefie. This should help me on my interview today. 😆

[martl]

You are perfect the way you are even when your not being creative yourself is just what you did on this video i haven't been watching your videos alit but over the years you have grown ti be a really inspiration

[quirkykindalife]

This paired well with my daily stoic reading for today. 💜