Eye Contact "mindsets"/ comfort zone

[Lotus]

I have been working on my eye contact. My fundamentals are decent when I am in conversation with people. Like I can hold until they break and and I break my own after and reengage once they do. I avoid looking down or up, but that only gets me so far.

I am however awful at making and holding eye contact with random people in passing on the street or mall. I try to watching everyone by watching nothing and then wait until they look in my direction to return the eye contact. But once our eyes lock I normally lose the game of chicken, and I don't do it smoothly I jerk my eyes away fast WHICH IS BAD.

It's frustrating to be stuck on such a beginning step.

 

[Lotus]

Forgot to add the comfort zone part and I think I missed the editing window.

I'm beginning to see a pattern. I believe this eye contact thing may have a root cause in me just avoiding leaving my comfort zone. When I am "comfortable" I can hold eye contact well with almost anyone. When I am uncomfortable I can't hold it with anyone.

And I think I'm running into the same problem in other aspects of my life as well.