How do you become less shy?

I have been this way since I was a child. I made a point of joining drama classes and for me, found it helped bring me out of myself in playing a character. But it never made my shyness go away, I just learned to deal with it. People aren't as scary as they seem and they often loved to talk about themselves so if I meet anyone new I ask questions, and answer the same question myself to get a common ground with them. It's surprising how many people are suffering from shyness so you aren't alone.