I've visited the local malls 4-5 times over the last couple months with the idea of approaching girls, and have not approached a single time. I feel ridiculous and creepy as fuck, like I'm some kind of PUA retard trying to ambush a girl who is alone or trying to cut in on her friends/family.

I have read thread after thread logically explaining how it cannot possibly hurt me to get rejected, how I have nothing to lose, how I'm insane for hesitating to try and look out for #1. I understand these concepts intellectually.

Still reading? Good. I need babysteps. I need low-risk techniques that expose me to the same emotions, the same feelings I get when trying to sexualize a conversation with a hot random female, in smaller doses that I can practice over time. I don't care how ridiculous it is or whether you think I'm a bitch for needing training wheels.

A few ideas I've already collected from other threads:

1 Conversations with anyone EXCEPT hot women, about anything. Teaches how to initiate a conversation and hold one with no ulterior motive. I'm kind of bad at this, but will start practicing immediately.

2 Initiating non-sexual conversations with women and disarming any risk or creep factor by disqualifying myself as a prospect. Example: comment on a girl's shoes, ask her where she got them so I can get a pair for my girlfriend for her birthday. Try to carry the conversation as far as possible but with no end-goal other than exposure training.

Any advice you can provide is appreciated. As a note, I do fine talking to girls in clubs, at parties, or amongst my social circle - I don't always escalate when I should, but I have no problem hanging out with them. It's breaking that "BP wall" of talking to hot girls I have no excuse to be talking to that is proving a challenge.