I've read a good amount of PUA articles and whatnot in the past, and it landed me a HB8 WITH a personality. For 2.5 years lol. Lets just say after that long, our personalities have worn on each other and we've been apart for a month or 2.
Anyways, I'm here posting because I'm toooo tired of my approach anxiety. I fancy myself a bit of a natural aside from this huge gap in my game. If a girl approaches me for whatever reason, I have little issues holding an interesting and funny conversation (not a PUA style convo, but I've learned to throw some gems in there).
High school was a breeze, (4 years graduated now lol) every opener was so indirect as it was always something about school or homework. Life after school, has been riddled with some sort of luck with most girls opening or approaching. Needless to say, lately (past 2 months), it seems my luck has run very dry.
Here goes the vitals:

CURRENTLY:
Running some lame game on Tinder, Hot or Not and Instagram. These are my go to sources for attention and practice... This needs to change IMMEDIATELY!
BIO:
Bay Area, Cali. Manager. Live at home for another few months. Almost 22. I'm attractive (slightly cocky) for a short guy (5'8"). Had my fair share of hook-ups. I know what success feels and tastes like, and everyday is a battle to bring myself closer to performing on all cylinders and at the best of my ability. Constant progress is the goal. Number 1 quality that gets me progress: Adaptability.
FUTURE GOALS:
I need to be able to approach girls. No questions asked. I need to be rejected and shot down and stomped on lol. I'm not here to be a master PUA but I think it's time I step into the role I know I was built for. A stone cold assassin with an undeniable, precise striking ability.

So if anyone has any sort of direction to lead me in, advice to drop, or even a few words about this endeavor, please feel free to let me know your thoughts! I apologize for the topic jumping, randomly put together sentences. It's been wayyy too long since I've written (typed lol) anything like this out! Thanks you guys.

Have fun bro, you said it best - you need to get out and approach. I think the background you have of not having to step out and put yourself on the line and basically having the girls come to you or spoonfed to you has caused you to not go and approach. Prepare for a bumpy ride with the good ol ego at first as you get 'scraped up' in your first few approaches. IMO with what you have said about yourself, once you get out there and get comfortable with approaching you'll achieve whatever goals you have for yourself w/ this.

Thanks! I can definitely say that I was, in fact pretty damn spoonfed. Going to have to grab that spoon and dig in myself!
Ah the ego will be the hardest loss ): 2 muscles cars, nice clothes and an athletic body <--- will be my absolute demise. I read somewhere about a "dissolved ego"? I like the term a lot. Pretty visual and a good checkpoint for myself.
Its funny because i ALWAYS tell all my buddies (who are convinced I can get any girl, LOL) to get out there and get shot down a lot... Cant take my own medicine.
I appreciate the response, I think I'll start with a few easy going daytime sets and try to leave the ego at home!

The best thing that can happen is to get 'rejection' aka 'learning experiences.' You learn more from 'rejections' than you do from successful interactions simply because they show you what you possibly need to modify.

When I first got into this, my first few approaches were just to get familiar with it, so I would eject myself after talking to the girl for a minute. Then when I started going for the #, I # closed the first 6 attempts in a row and was like "WTF THIS IS TOO EASY I AM A MACHINE"

Then on the 7th # close attempt I got 'rejected'. I told the girl "that's cool enjoy ur day" and after that I remember standing there for at least 2 minutes in a state of confusion lol. But it was the best thing that could have happened because you learn that life goes on and it is no big deal if it isn't a match. It just isn't a match. Who cares. There are 3.5 billion women on the planet.
If nothing else you can tell the ego to 'fuck off' and get into some chats w/ girls despite the ego's (and approach anxiety's) loud protests

I think once I get over that feeling in the pit of my stomach when I wanna approach, I'l do well haha.

May never get over that feeling. Have to push through it. After a couple of approaches for the day, the feeling disappears.