HELP!!! With breaking out of my shell and proving a point.

You don't have to become a less caring person just because of this guy. You're you and he's him. If you pretend to be someone you are not, you might find later down the road you don't know who you are anymore. Trust me, what matters is having good friends you trust and being a stand up guy.

Is there any way to actually do better than someone at something? Or does this seem stupid?

Yes there is and it is not stupid at all. The simple notion that you want to better yourself is great, but you must have confidence in yourself. All throughout your life, there will be people that will be better than you at pretty much everything. But that's okay, because everybody has to start somewhere. The smart ones make friends with them and learn from these people they admire or strive to be and it gives them motivation to be a better person or be better at something. A fool doesn't ask questions and think they know everything there is to know already. Everybody can teach you something. I think doing this to prove a point to yourself is a great idea, challenging yourself and stepping out of your comfort zone is how you grow.

Take care of your body and dress as well as you can. Your exterior is super important because it changes the way you act and talk. Always try to be confident and relaxed. Keeping up with your appearance will make you more confident and more relaxed. Dressing better can change your life, seriously. We're all shallow and judgmental in some form. When people see you you want them to have a positive idea of you.

Always go with the decision that makes for a better story. When you make the decision to live the life that makes for a better story, you will find yourself in interesting places, sometimes with interesting people, sometimes with interesting chemicals coursing through your veins. This is natural, do not be disturbed.

How do I not be afraid to do something I want to do?

Being afraid is a good thing, it's natural. The only time a man can be brave is when he is afraid. Being brave means doing something even though you are afraid. You can do it, you just have to believe that you can first.

Sorry this is getting into a ramble, but I hope it helped in some way.

/r/Advice Thread