How can I be more outgoing and comfortable with myself?

it seems you are like me…well try to be more confident don’t wait for others to come at you and talk,invite you to a film or anything else,it is your life and you can control it,but not if you are shy(and you don’t need a special talent,but if you want,try taking lessons of something,arts,piano or other instruments,etc)

woah. your family has skewed your perception of reality. not all guys cheat, for one thing, i would never cheat on a girl i was seeing. secondly, and most importantly, what i think is wrong is that you have been growing up with irrational fear of rejection.

i used to be painfully shy as well, but i finally accepted who i was and decided i was happy with myself. then i was no longer scared of death, and if you arent scared of death then you dont really have any fear at all. if you dont have fear you arent scared to be bold, or to speak your mind, or to talk back, or to try things youve always wanted to try, or to live life to the fullest, because you have accepted yourself for who you are and not for who everyone else wants you to be. if jimmy who sits behind you in math thinks your weird, thats his opinion, and he doesnt have to like you. i promise that if you are more outgoing and secure (and theres no reason you shouldnt be) then you will be more well liked and noticed; by guys too.

Try your best not be shy. Like notice them through small things. I discovered this when I was doing origami and one girl (yes I’m a guy) noticed I was folding something really small. Then came this friendship that is quite extraordinary because we live 400 miles from each other. Anyway, do something unusual but creative and productive that would make you be noticed even in small groups. Gradually growing and growing until you have "fans" that develop through time to be your closest friend.

I was also "conditioned" to go home straight after school. I don’t know how to hang out just like you and so I’m quite struck as if I’m ignorant about certain things. But now I’m also in college and it’ll help you just by being with other people. Simply enjoying their company while it lasts.

And I’ll enlighten you with this quote from "Kung Fu Panda": You are too concerned with what was and what will be. (not included in quote: well, in this here answer, it’s more of a "what was" concern) there’s a saying, yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery but today is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present.

Perhaps you should take that quote to heart and ignore whatever has happened to you and your family’s "destroying-Brittany’s-Self-Esteem" project.

Try your best to be outgoing enough to make real friends. Not just friends, real friends that you treat like special siblings (or relatives, whatever works) or even more than that.

Have fun on your journey to be happy!

No, it is absolutely NOT too late for you to let loose. but first of all, you need to realize that there is nothing wrong with being shy. personality traits are innate, something that you were born with and is essentially part of you. but, with more and more interaction with the world, this can be changed. it definitely takes a lot of time to break out of shyness. i know because i used to be extremely shy, and still am to some extent. but it has gotten better.
for me, my shyness went away when i moved away from the home and went to college. i agree too that my parents had a big effect on me, because they never pushed me to do anything on my own. but once i was forced out on my own, and observed different kinds of people, and was put in different situations, i learned how to adapt to them. of course at first, i was extremely awkward and seemed unapproachable. but you learn to force yourself out of that stage the more you put yourself in social situations. you really just have to force yourself, even if it’s awkward. just get out on your own.
i’ve never had a real boyfriend either, but lately a lot of guys have been approaching me. it’s because i go out, and when a guy does approach me, i always find ways to make small talk and say funny things. i can tell you know how to write well from your post, so i’m guessing you’re pretty good with words. and you are able to speak well i’m guessing. use this to your advantage! you really seem intelligent. so don’t feel the need to dumb yourself down to feel accepted (a lot of girls do this). but it’s something that takes time. and you have to force yourself to do it.
but just try to look at the good qualities in your life and build from that. you NEED to find some hope in order to become more confident. and embrace your shyness too! just admit it especially talking to guys. they find it attractive =)

Well, first of all, it sounds like you’re your own worst enemy. I’ve always said that in order to have friends you have to be one. You have to be friendly and actually like people. But you don’t even like yourself. Why do you think you’re so much worse than anyone else? We are all the same. Everyone comes from the same place, regardless of what they do or think or wear etc.

Get your head out of your but and start living. Start with being good to yourself, if no one else. Treat yourself as you want other people to treat you. Stop putting yourself down. No one, EXCEPT YOU has set any standard of the way you’re supposed to act or be, so stop limiting yourself.

If a boy asks you out, that means that he likes what he sees. He wants to take you out to do fun things, eat, watch a movie, go to a museum or whatever he thinks that you and he might have in common. You’re not going on an interview, you’re supposed to be having fun. I’m sure there’s something you like to do, isn’t there? A certain type of subject/book or genre of movie? A certain type of food or activity that you think about doing, right? There has to be something. I don’t think anyone has absolutely nothing they like.

So decide what you like and do that.

Dear, there’s a simple thought- You have only one life to live, You have only one life to love, You have only one birth as a human. This thought if it gets into your brain in its truest and simplest of meaning, can be enough to drive you and motivate you for the rest of your life. There is so much to know, feel, say, do, think and experience in this world that one life is too less. Believe in yourself. No matter how mediocre, under-confident, shy or sad you may be, trust me, you are still way better off than millions others. Whenever sad or confused, look at people who are below your standard of living, look at those living in under-developed countries, think of those who lost their families and belongings in calamities and accidents, think of those who are illiterate and below poverty line. You will really realize that your position no matter what it may be is way better off than millions others, literally above millions others. Shouldn’t that be enough to cool you down and give you some sensibility, responsibility and maturity? No matter how sad or morose you may be, just think of these people and you will see yourself coming out of troubles very soon. That is why I say, You have only one life to live. And it should be impossible for you to accommodate sadness in it. You should rather be thankful to god every single moment of your life, that you are alive and are head and hearty. Make a routine for yourself. Right from the time you get up till you go off to sleep. Make an itinerary for every single hour of the day. Include time for reading, writing, exercising, socializing, vocational activities, studying, cooking, etc etc. And eventually you will see how much more you are doing and learning within a day. A day would seem to be more than 24 hours to you and you would still want more. Get rid of any hitches you have. Just go out and let yourself lose. Talk to strangers, neighbors and colleagues. Get involved in everything at college level. Take interest in housekeeping and anything and everything else. Initially, you may make a lot of mistakes and even be mocked at. But trust me, all your mistakes would be your learning lessons and so eventually your clarity and understanding of yourself and the world will improve. And hence, your confidence would be boosted too. And once you are confident, all those people and places that initially showed resistance to you would now be all the more welcoming. Learn to take risks. And own up to everything you do. This would help you communicate, work hard and be confident. With your communication and sincere efforts, you may end up winning your family’s hearts and changing their mindsets, sooner or later. Its stupid to think and do as others feel and say because no one is perfect and nothing lasts forever. Also, our minds are as diverse as our faces and public memory is very short and mood-driven. So, ultimately only you can play your game and do, say, feel, express and think as you wish and as much you wish.
Good luck.