[svckr]

I think what turned me around was positive feedback. IMO the best way to get positive feedback is by being around the right people. You know … open hearted, welcoming folks, who talk to you and know how to listen and ask questions that get you talking. Once I realised that people can actually be interested in what I'm saying, meeting new people felt way less scary.

Now, it might seem difficult to seek "the right people" out yourself, so maybe ask acquaintances to take you along and maybe make introductions so you don't have to break the ice yourself. Something like "Hey, this is dondraper36, he's into X, you told me something about that last time didn't you" can be enough.

I can't understand how someone would recommend the gym. Just like you, I'm not awkward in the gym, but I'm not interested at all in conversation when I'm there.