A task carries the conversation

Purely social settings are hard work when you are lonely, because there is nothing in the room to do except be socially successful, and you are already watching yourself.

A setting with a task in it is much easier. There is a thing happening, the thing takes the pressure, and the talking happens around the edges of it. Nobody has to perform. Silence is not a failure, because everybody is busy.

The tradition is full of these. A halaqah with a text to read. Helping at an event. Visiting someone who is ill. Being the person who stacks the chairs. None of them require you to be interesting.