How can i be more chatty and less awkward?

[bellaj-x]

Guys have commented on how i am quiet and awkward when they first meet me. Everyone who knows me thinks this is ridiculous because when i get to know people i am the loudest person they know..im just really not confident when im with people i dont really know. Im not a naturally chatty person, but i want to be so much because i feel that its holding me back. I am a pretty awkward person because im pretty tall and skinny and even though now i am fairly comfortable with my height, all those years of being ridiculously self concious have left me generally quite awkward.

How can i be more confident and chatty and less awkward?!

[Bbbananas]

Give it time Bella.... I get the impression you're still very young. Confidence comes with age & experience... for the time being, just be yourself.

You say they say you're quiet when they "first meet you"... obviously once you feel comfortable in their company you come out a bit. Don't worry too much about how you think you sound, look etc - just be yourself. Any guy worth his salt will see beyond the initial quietness and/or any awkwardness.

[cazzz1975]

try to keep putting yourself in situations where you have to talk to people you are unfamiliar with, it will get easier and you will feel less awkward or tongue tied

[sammmo]

most people are shy on there first dates.. you don't want to just sit like a dummy and you don't want to talk alot of jibberish so the best way of overcoming this is to get tiddly before you meet up then that will give you a bit more confidence and if you talk jibberish you can blame it on the drink.. problem solved

[Bbbananas]

just not tooooo much !!!

[davidbrt]

If guys have commented about how awkward you are, then they are not nice guys. I think we are all not confident when we meet new people, but its not a bad thing.

[Old_Geezer]

Experience is the only way to feel more comfortable in a particular situation. Familiarity and all that. Push yourself a bit until it becomes natural.

Don't think you'll just change over time without having to make the effort. If it just seems too much then accept you will be the sort of person who feels so uncomfortable around new folk that you you tend to be quite, for the rest of your life. If I'm honest even at my age I'm still having to make an effort in thise situations. But there again I accept I'm quite unsociable by nature.

[jno]

Most people are more reserved in first encounters - in fact it's the loud, brash ones who give me the willies - I don't trust someone who's all over you the minute he's met you. Probably the best thing you can do is just listen when you're talked to - men love a good listener! You don't have to volunteer anything about yourself; if they want to know, they'll ask. Answer questions simply, venture opinions on things you know about - if you don't, just say 'That's not one of my specialist subjects'.

Anyone who'd reject you because you are awkward, or tall, isn't someone to worry about. The ones who persevere with you are the ones you want.