You know, The only way to stop feeling awkward is to stop judging awkwardness. It sounds simple, but it’s a total game-changer. It’s about breaking the cycle of self-criticism that keeps you stuck. Once you stop labeling the feeling as bad, the power just drains right out of it.
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Meaning
The core message is that the feeling of awkwardness isn’t the real problem. It’s our negative judgment *of* that feeling that creates the suffering and keeps the cycle going.
Explanation
Let me break this down for you. Think of it like this: the initial feeling of awkwardness is just a blip on the radar, a quick social hiccup. It happens to everyone. But what we do next is crucial. We immediately slap a label on it: “Oh no, I’m being awkward. This is terrible. They can see it.” That judgment is like pouring gasoline on a tiny spark. It ignites the full-blown anxiety, the self-consciousness, the whole painful spiral. So the quote is telling us to short-circuit that process. Don’t feed the spark. Just notice the feeling without the story, without the critique, and let it pass. It’s a subtle shift, but it changes everything.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Emotion (177) |
| Topics | acceptance (73), fear (92) |
| Literary Style | clear (348), reflective (255) |
| Emotion / Mood | gentle (183) |
| Overall Quote Score | 82 (297) |
Origin & Factcheck
This comes straight from Leil Lowndes’s book, Goodbye to Shy: 85 Shybusters That Work, which was published in the United States back in 2000. It’s a practical guide, not just theory, which is why the quote feels so actionable. You sometimes see similar sentiments floating around anonymously, but this specific, powerful phrasing is definitively hers.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Leil Lowndes (235) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | Goodbye to Shy: 85 Shybusters That Work (50) |
| Origin Timeperiod | Contemporary (1615) |
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
Leil Lowndes writes about striking conversations with unknown people and how to put others at ease and maintain relationships. Her techniques are straightforward and practically usable that readers can apply immediately in their workplace, and everyday life. Her book list includes How to Talk to Anyone and Goodbye to Shy which have reached international audiences.
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Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | The only way to stop feeling awkward is to stop judging awkwardness |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2000; ISBN: 9780071412946; Last edition: McGraw-Hill, 2004; Number of pages: 304 |
| Where is it? | Chapter 46: The Awkward Cure, Approximate page from 2004 edition |