I think this is my form of approach anxiety.

There are 2 girls at my local supermarket. This is just 1 example. Both are really friendly - 1 of them I have caught checking me out before (once when I walked in with my gym clothes on), and she just smiles and gives me a head nod in this case. She's made a bit of chat above and beyond what the weather is like today. The other I teased her about how she looks like she's having a great time while she's at work, and now she seems bashfully shy every time I go through her lane. She cant stop smiling. I use the excuse of 'she looks like she might be 17' to talk myself out of asking for her number. A valid concern but I don't actually know it for sure. The first girl, I just talk to her because that's comfortable but I never escalate it.

With both examples I get outside and then kick myself instantly. In the safety of my own home I know i have a very slim chance of getting rejected by either of them but for some reason I talk myself out of it at the time or my mind doesnt even stop to think 'this is the time period in which you actually have to do something'.

And from that point I have no reason to be there any more so my next 'opportunity' is probably several days later.

How to get past this? Its a common theme that I now admit has held me back from any progress. Possibly just fear of rejection, or the unknown, or risk in general, I'm not sure which. I don't feel like I would care that much about rejection from either girl as I am not hung up on them. Its weird.