Feeling Insecure

I think most women have had the experience of walking into a playgroup, a church meeting or any other gathering of other women and instantly feeling like they are back in high school walking into a classroom on the first day of school.

Where do I sit? Do I have any friends here? Does anyone see how awkward I look? Ok, I’ll just sit here in the back corner and hope no one notices what a dork I am.

We actually talked a little about these awkward adult insecurity moments in church recently in a lesson about how Relief Society should not be one of those places where we feel lost, insecure or friendless. FYI, Relief Society is the women’s organization in the LDS Church where women meet weekly in church and monthly in activities.

We talked about how many women feel uncomfortable in Relief Society because they feel no one talks to them or even knows who they are. I’ve had this feeling at different times in my life, and believe me, it makes walking into that room on Sunday pretty miserable.

But it shouldn’t be that way. We aren’t in high school anymore, and church should be a safe haven from the painful insecurities of the world.

So what can you do to help other women who may be feeling left out. Or if you’re one of those women, how can you help yourself?

The best thing I got out of our talk at church was that you can’t wait for others to reach out. Yes, in a perfect world, there would always be someone there that rushes to sit by you or embraces you at the doorway, but that’s just not going to happen. So you have to be pro-active. You have to be the one to strike up a conversation, introduce yourself and actively find your own spot in the group.

What do you think —- have you ever experienced this “high school moment” when you walk into Relief Society or any group of women? What’s the best way to overcome our insecurities or to help others feel included?