I've done the whole "try approaching, it's not that bad" shyt already. And it isn't.If lying to yourself helps you sleep at night, continue to do so. If you're scared to approach, admit it to yourself. I did and a week later i made my first approach. Went pretty bad but like op said i didnt even feel like shyt after, actually felt good for telling myself "im gonna just do it" and then actually doing it
But once again I don't have time to be shooting 1 for 100 on females who are minding their business and don't know or care that I exist. We live in an era where women will let it be known they want you to say something, they won't say "get your ass over here" but they'll do enough. Due to trying hard to outmen men until its inconvienient (i.e. not approaching), they are more superficial than ever before, so your package deal better be on point. Some of us simply do not have the tools to play and would be wasting their time getting at women with no calling card to draw them in.
I know that on a physical/surface level, there is no reason that a woman who isn't extremely homely or a wildebeest would entertain me. I also know small talk does not float my boat, nor do I have a stack of wild "Once Upon a Time" stories, so if it's not a topic of substance or one of my jokes landing I won't be fulfilling the "entertain/excite me" requisite that women have. If you aren't male model status out here you're giving off the impression that you can provide for them, or entertain them. If you strike out in all 3 categories, like me, I will be wildly inefficient with my time and mental energy just to land 1 bytch I probably don't even like like that.
If brehs wanna bat .035 more power to them.