{"id":70060,"date":"2017-11-19T13:10:22","date_gmt":"2017-11-19T21:10:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=70060"},"modified":"2017-11-19T13:12:36","modified_gmt":"2017-11-19T21:12:36","slug":"how-to-conquer-social-anxiety-with-street-photography","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/11\/19\/how-to-conquer-social-anxiety-with-street-photography\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Conquer Social Anxiety With Street Photography"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Simple<\/p>\n

Street photography<\/a> is the ultimate tool to conquer your fears and social anxieties in life.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

CONQUER YOUR FEARS AND MEET NEW PEERS ><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Learn to not fear rejection<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The biggest fear many of us have is not being accepted for who we are. Being rejected is fucking painful. We want others to take us for who we are.<\/p>\n

This is why we spend thousands of dollars on fancy clothes, watches, outfits, cars, and stuff \u00e2\u20ac\u201d to try to get others to like us more. To have others see us as more beautiful or important.<\/p>\n

But friend, realize the fear of rejection is worse than the rejection itself.<\/strong><\/p>\n

What I mean to say is:<\/p>\n

\n Getting rejected isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t that bad.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Assignment 1. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The 10 no challenge\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I have an assignment for you called the \u00e2\u20ac\u015310 no challenge.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d The idea is you have to approach a bunch of strangers to shoot a street portrait<\/a> of them, and you MUST get 10 people to reject you and say \u00e2\u20ac\u0153no\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.<\/p>\n

The reason this assignment works to conquer social anxiety:<\/p>\n

\n The purpose is to get rejected.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This will rewire your brain to no longer fear rejection, but to crave and desire it.<\/p>\n

Pretty powerful, no?<\/p>\n

And also\u00e2\u20ac\u201d trust me, getting rejected (on purpose) is actually more difficult than it seems.<\/strong><\/p>\n

2. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t fear strangers<\/h2>\n
\"Man
Man in window. Berlin, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I have \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcxenophilia\u00e2\u20ac\u2122: I love strangers. This is the opposite of \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcxenophobia\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 (being afraid of strangers or foreigners).<\/p>\n

Realize, that everyone is friendly. Strangers are much friendlier than they seem. And ultimately, as humans \u00e2\u20ac\u201d we are all more similar than dissimilar.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We all love family friends, food, dance, drink, and social company. We all drink tea and coffee, and many of us beer, wine, and we all love a good laugh.<\/p>\n

Whenever I meet strangers, I like to talk to them while I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m photographing them. I ask them open-ended questions like:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Hello! How is your day coming along!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/li>\n
  • \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You have a great smile\/look!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/li>\n
  • \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Thank you for letting me photograph you!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    This is good because you can photograph strangers without seeming creepy \u00e2\u20ac\u201d because you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not hiding anything. You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re communicating openly with your subject, and making them laugh and feel more human.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    Also, whenever I meet strangers, I try to find a common bridge, or a common interest with them \u00e2\u20ac\u201d to bridge the gap with them, and feel closer to them. I do this by trying to find out if we like the same food, enjoy the same music, or if we both like to drink coffee (most people).<\/p>\n

    3. Have fun shooting with other people<\/h2>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    The reason I love to teach street photography workshops<\/a> is to connect people together (in real life).<\/p>\n