I was absolutly terrified at the prospect of making new friends- I still am to be honest. But one thing I've found that helps is to pursue something that you just really love. For me, that's writing. I'm taking a journalism class right now, and I'm starting to become friends with my class mates because we speak the same "language".Because of my passion, I found a book called "The Artist's Way." It's supposed to help you unleash your inner creativity, but it does much more than that. It helps you to get down to the reasons why you are blocked and hesitant in various areas of your life. Using a daily journaling process, you explore why you are the way you are. You vent, you grieve, you explore new possibilities.
Cicatrix:
Are you sure you haven't hijacked my identity???? I could have written that! OMG!! I too am taking journalism and have gone through Cameron's book The Artist's Way , plus am going through another one of her books: "God Is No Laughing Matter". Wow!
I'm still officially "in", so am probably behind you somewhere on the path to self-discovery. I'm also interested in Jung as well as dream interpretation! OMG! Are you my twin?
Rebel: as for not fitting in, I've felt that way most of my life. Now I am beginning to realize that most of it was due to being a JW, where by definition you are not supposed to fit in. when you live your life keeping people at arm's length (even those "related to you in the faith" because you never know if one day you might have to turn them in to the elders for some foolishness) it's very isolating and it's hard to start making friends. I'm sort of at the cross-roads now, trying to get out and do things and see what I love and where I fit.
However, some of the world's greatest artistic and musical geniuses also felt that they didn't fit in with society. So maybe we're all in good company!