Well, first we
must realize that the most important thing is to just plain
get out of the house. Get your personal perception in order
and then turn off the television and start doing things out of
the house. Your social self is like a muscle and without
proper stretching and exercise it will atrophy. To start
developing the social self you’ve always have desired it is
going to take a lot more than simply wishing that you oozed
charm from every orifice. You’ll need to go out and start
meeting and talking to people, and study not only their
behavior but also how your behavior affects theirs.
If you do find
yourself at home with no energy or desire to “deal” with other
people, this feeling will only get worse if you refuse to
leave your home or accomplish the things you need to. Your
depression will keep feeding off of itself for as long as you
allow it. Move. Awaken your senses with a walk. Feel the wind
pass over your finger as you drive and I can assure you a
tingle of life will seep back inside of you and reclaim your
thirst for social involvement. Make a pact with yourself that
you will go out and socialize at least three days or nights of
the week. Now, don’t misunderstand me and think I mean go to
bars an pick people up three nights out of the week. No, I
mean go to a bookstore, or a pottery class, or a wine tasting,
or a dog park and simple have a conversion with someone new.
You can just smile and say hello or chat about the lighting,
it doesn’t matter as long as you are being genuine and alert.
Another great
idea is to volunteer! This gives you flexibility and the
opportunity to have some really great conversations. Try and
do some research of what different services are in your area
and what would spark your interest. Knowing your own talent
will help guide you to something that will truly be
fulfilling. This will get you out of the house and not only
put you in the position for meeting some great friends to do
even more fun things with, it puts you in the position of
being a lot more loving to yourself. And you need to be able
to love yourself to truly prepare for someone to love you.
Otherwise you will not be able to fully feel it, appreciate
it, or return it…bottom line.