That reminds me of myself years ago. I was somewhat shy and self-conscious, so whenever I got embarrassed I would say, “That’s all right, Jean, old gal. You’ve made a fool of yourself so many times by now — one more time won’t make any difference.” It helped a lot. 🙂
Have you ever felt like the gal in the cartoon?
June 2, 2015
I’m embarrassed a dozen times a day, but I know other people are embarrassed just as often so it doesn’t bother me. In fact I’d start to worry if I wasn’t embarrassed, as it would suggest I’m immune to other people’s feelings and opinions.
Nick, twelve dozen times a day? Let’s subtract six since you tend to exaggerate at every corner. That still leaves half a dozen. I am incredulous. Six times a day? How? And let me tell you there is no, or shouldn’t be, any comfort in “other people … being embarrassed just as often”. Anyway, how do YOU know?
You do scare me at times, Nick.
U
I think self-consciousness, worrying too much about other people’s reactions, gets in the way of connecting with other people. Focusing on the other person and what we want to share works much better, IMHO.
Jean, I do believe there to be a difference between ourselves being embarrassed (rarely so in the eyes of others – and the curse of the shy), actually and in reality embarrassing ourselves and, thirdly, being, actively, embarrassed by someone else. The latter I’d categorize as “being humiliated”. Not nice. The other two? The first one I’d never poo poo because shyness can make you feel awkward in public. The second? Well, take it on the chin. It happens. Don’t take yourself too seriously. You’ll remember making an ass of yourself for longer than anyone else will.
U
“Don’t take yourself too seriously.” That was the beauty of my approach, of course. It was liberating. I assume you’re learning that too?
It takes a great deal to embarrass me. And I haven’t had many opportunities to get on a stage to do anything before strangers. But, making a fool of myself on other matters comes quite naturally to me.
Back in the early days of Christianity, when people were going out in the deserts to be hermits, another suggested approach was to keep making a fool of yourself in front of other people. It was just as effective in getting out of one’s ego.
Ursula: I exaggerate? A woman I once worked with said she was permanently embarrassed. But then again, maybe SHE was exaggerating? And how often do you hear people say “God, that was embarrassing.” I rest my case.
I don’t do That foolishness again, but I’ll be foolish the next time.
When I was a kid, I was embarrassed very easily.
But I think that was mainly due to the fact that I had a teacher in elementary school who singled me out and used me as an example and ridiculed me in front of the class, so the kids in class would wait for me to slip up and then laugh and make fun of me.
After I was out of school, my confidence started to grow and I found I wasn’t embarrassed as much.
Now, and I suppose this just comes with age, I just don’t care and I’m not embarrassed unless I do something incredibly stupid. Like….
Ummm, hit myself in the head TWICE with a dolly cart!
LOL! Yeah, embarrassed at my own stupidity.
Duh.
Banging your head twice was too bad. I’m sorry it hurt, but I think we can all identify with you. I, for one, have done things at least that bad, and I’m laughing at the thought of them. 🙂