Overcoming Social Anxiety: A Stoic's Perspective

The need for approval in the presence of a group or crowd can lead to social anxiety, inhibiting our ability to flourish. Stoic philosophy suggests that to tame this anxiety, we should reflect on the nature of a crowd. Seeing a crowd as a collection of individuals rather than an entity in its own right helps diminish the anxious need for approval. Whether the individuals in the crowd are impressive or not, their opinions are not in our control and should not be our concern. It is important to carry ourselves with integrity and accept whatever opinions others form of us.