APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY: Week of January 20 to 26, 2025: Speech: What can help me if I am very shy?, Lesson 16, Prepared Assignment.

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY: January 20-26, 2025: Speech: What can help me if I am very shy?, Lesson 16, Prepared Assignment.

Speech (5 mins.) ijwyp article 105. Title: What can help me if I am very shy? (th lesson 16).

Have you ever felt like shyness is holding you back? Maybe you've wanted to talk to someone new, participate in an activity, or express your opinion, but shyness has paralyzed you. It's frustrating, right?

The good news is that shyness doesn't have to be a permanent obstacle. In fact, it can become a strength if you learn to control it. Today we will discuss how to identify your fears, face them, and use biblical principles to gain confidence.

Let's identify your fears, shyness is usually fueled by specific fears. Let's look at some examples:

Fear 1: “I don't know what to talk about.” Let's think about Ana, a young woman who wanted to make new friends in her congregation. Every time he went to talk to someone, he felt blank, like he had nothing interesting to say.

Fear 2: “People are going to think I'm boring.” Pedro always thought that others judged him for not being so outgoing. But one day, a friend told him: “I like talking to you because you always pay attention.”

Fear 3: “If I say something wrong, I will make a fool of myself.” Laura, a young sister, shared a comment at the meeting and misquoted a verse. Although she felt embarrassed at first, she realized that everyone makes mistakes.

These are some of the fears, but how are we going to face them? If you realize, many of the fears come when we observe the actions of others. So don't compare yourself to others. Imagine that you are learning to play an instrument. If you compare yourself to someone who has been practicing for years, you might become discouraged. Something similar happens with shyness. Move forward at your own pace and celebrate every small achievement.

For example: Martha decided to take a small step: greet someone new in her congregation. Although for others it may seem like something simple, for her it was a great achievement. 

LET'S READ GALATIANS 6:4.

But let each one examine his own actions, and then he will have reason to rejoice in what he himself has done, without comparing himself with another person.

Another thing we can do is, watch and learn, notice how other social people interact. What phrases do you use to break the ice? How do they express themselves with confidence?

For example: Juan noticed that his friend Daniel always started conversations with a smile and a question like: “How is everything going?” Juan decided to imitate that approach and saw that it worked.

LET'S READ PROVERBS 27:17.

Just as iron sharpens iron, a man makes his friend better.

You can also start by asking questions and preparing yourself, asking questions shows interest in others and diverts attention from yourself.

Example: Before attending a social gathering, Andrea thought about some questions she could ask, such as: “What do you like to do in your free time?” or “How did you get interested in your career?”, this gave him more confidence. Philippians 2:4 encourages us to “seek not only our own interests, but also those of others.”

Finally, keep in mind that when you make an effort to overcome shyness, you begin to experience things that you previously avoided: You will make sincere friends. You will feel more comfortable in conversations. You will be more useful to others. Shyness doesn't have to limit you. Identify your fears, follow a practical plan, and trust that Jehovah can help you move forward. Remember that being shy is not a defect, but learning to control it will allow you to enjoy life more and strengthen your relationships.