I think the best thing about this is that it's really really really hard for ages and it feels like you're not making much progress. but then once you hit a certain point the benefits start to snowball because every time you're able to handle a situation without getting Activated, able to admit you were wrong with grace, able to reevaluate your ideas without getting defensive, able to deescalate interpersonal conflicts, you're building up this positive reinforcement history with those things and that makes those pathways in your brain get more deeply grooved and you start to associate opportunities to do those things with like, Learning New Stuff, or Connecting With People In New Ways, or even just That Interaction Went Better Than It Would Have Five Years Ago. and then the next time it happens it's that much less terrifying. and then in situations where despite your efforts it DOESN'T go well, that makes it easier to be like "well that's an anomaly and it seems like it's more about where the other person is at right now than it is about me" and not have it feel like EVIL FAILURE. it's like building a muscle but it's such a crucial muscle and so many other things really depend on it in terms of moving thru the world as a social animal. I think. like once you accept your status as Social Animal In Progress, Doing My Best and Willing To Change it takes so much pressure off. omg. it's such a game changer