How do people do this all the time? I know people who have never been single since I've known them!

That, I'm not sure. But if I have to guess, I would say confidence. Actually, I like that answer. Confidence also means if you don't succeed, you get right back to trying. Confidence helps you develop an outgoing personality.

Starting to make sense??

(Loners have a hard time with this concept.)

I have an outgoing personality. Well, I have an outgoing persona. I'm introverted, and while I'm not a "loner", I don't think, I do like to have regrouping time by myself.

The more comfortable you are in a situation, the more outgoing you are, correct?

Questions..

When you go out with friends, do you always drive?
Do you normally pick the places y'all go?
Do you avoid situations/places/circumstances where you are unfamiliar?

Yes, I'm more outgoing if I'm comfortable. Otherwise, I'm a wallflower. To answer your questions:

Yes, unless I go out with my friend James, and then he drives.
No, I go wherever my friends want to go.
If I absolutely have to go somewhere that I'm unfamiliar (which I try to avoid), I prefer to take someone with me that I know.

You trust James....I take it he's a friend, i.e. not romantic intrest?

Do you like to be in control?

Right, he's a friend. One of my best friends, but not a romantic interest.

I need to be in control.

I know where you are coming from. Actually me giving you advise is kinda like the blind leading the blind. Except I somewhat know what the answers are, but are unable to act upon them. That's low confidence. Granted that's just in the personal life part. At work I am extremly confident in my abilities. I take charge, solve problems, implement solutions, lead people, etc...

Sound familiar??

Yeah, at work I'm very outgoing and have lots of leadership responsibilities and am very involved. And I'm friends with everyone. But at home, I've got a small group of very close friends and I keep to myself.

Well. its after 11 pm (east coast) and 6 am comes fast. But my last piece of advise for the evening...

Be patient, you sound like you have a good head on your shoulders. Be confident, I've seen your pic, and you probably turn more heads than you know (or admit to yourself). Control the mind chatter, it can help or it can work against you.

And on top of that, you're still young, you have your whole lofe ahead of you.

Thank you

Anytime...

I don't think you are alone on this..I think a lot of people actually do this. I think its because you don't want to take a chance of getting hurt. I think you are just comfortable in your life the way you are and when you think someone wants to make a "committment" that means that everything is going to change. You don't like changes, that means you can't control things.
Am I close? HMM I guess I know exactly how you feel because this is how I feel. BUT to be perfectly honest with you, I do like being single NOW!! I use to do that when I was in a relationship and when the relationship was getting ready to move up a step!! I remember when my boyfriend of 2 years gave me an engagement ring for Christmas...OMG talk about being freaked out!! I felt so trapped BUT I loved him and I was confused!! Talk about the "flight or fight" feeling!!
I think you just have to realize that its alright to love someone and they won't hurt you! BUT you have to trust them 100% and then you won't have that feeling to run.
Good luck and just be patient, it will go away

Have you thought of brief counseling or psychotherapy to explore, identify, and resolve the root causes and feelings related to this?

Most of my friends are in relationships. Apparently, even the ones who I thought were single are in relationships! And they don't seem to have these kinds of issues. So they've been no help to really talk to. I am actually already in counseling for some other things, but social anxiety is one of them that I'm working on. I'll get there eventually, but I'm just tired of feeling awkward!