In this BIT: Ready to get over embarrassment and stop being embarrassed? Learn more about second hand embarrassment, social skills, and more.
You say something you think will be funny, but nobody laughs. You wear something totally different from everyone else, or you accidentally twin with someone. You laugh and it turns out they weren’t joking. You go to the wrong classroom. We’ve all done something EMBARRASSING! However, we can’t let one awkward moment ruin our mood or day. Keep reading for our tried and true advice on how to stop feeling embarrassed.
A key social skill is to find the humor in any situation, and chuckle just a little bit. This way, you can ease away the awkward moment, and if someone else laughs, they’re laughing WITH you, not at you. Plus, it is scientifically proven that if we smile or laugh, our brain releases happiness hormones, which will make you feel better in this slightly uncomfortable moment.
We are often far harder on ourselves than we are on those that we care about. In order to ground yourself, think about how you would react if a friend did what you just considered embarrassing. Would you remember this forever? Would you be offended, or never speak with them again? Highly unlikely. Rather, you would likely try to comfort a friend, and help them move along. Show yourself that same grace!
Sometimes, when we do something embarrassing, we can spiral! We start thinking about what everyone else is thinking, if they are gossiping about us, whether or not they think we’re dumb, if someone is offended…etc. In order to break this spiral, which is typically far deeper than the situation itself, we can talk to someone. Maybe call your parent, text a sibling or close friend, tell them about the situation, ask for advice, and maybe even laugh about it together. Sharing those inner thoughts rather than just ruminating in them can really help us feel better and leave this embarrassing moment in the past.
We hope that these tips help you get over embarrassment with more ease, bringing you a small bit of happiness.
For more happiness check out our Mood Boost page.
Featuring quick videos created for teens by teens.
Learn more about how to get over embarrassment, recover from second hand embarrassment, awkward moments, and more!