It’s unfortunate that little moments of awkwardness can kill a potential friendship

I know that some of this is in my head, but I also know that not all of it’s in my head.

Sometimes when I want to be friends with someone, my eye contact is too intense, or there are too many awkward pauses as I overthink what I say. Or, worse, I say something stupid that makes things weird. I try too hard, and I get in my head. I get tense, and I’m not relaxed. As a result, they also feel weird around me and are less interested in hanging out with me.

Ironically, the people I’m most relaxed around are people who I don’t have a ton of interest in being friends with. I know that people would then say, Then stop caring so much! But that’s impossible.