zoe

Overreacting because someone doesn’t know something can make them feel crappy, embarrassed, like they’re missing out or stupid. It will make them more reluctant to talk about certain things with you.

Person 1 - I love movie name it’s a classic. Person 2 - I’ve never seen it Person 1 - Omg, how haven’t you seen it!?

Instead go with - I’d really recommend watching it, I think you’d like it. It’s about…

Or

Person 1 - Did you see person in the news Person 2 - Who’s that? Person 1 - Seriously, you haven’t heard of person

Instead go with - they are… they were in the news because of…

Doing this will build trust and a feeling of safety if they just don’t know things. They are also more likely to watch/listen/read etc the thing, and then come and talk to you about it afterwards too.

Did you know people are statistically happier in the anticipation period before they go on vacation than they are when they’re on the vacation itself? Similarly, people are generally happier waiting to buy a material good than they are when they actually buy it. Appreciating times of anticipation in your life can be an incredible coping strategy and a source of easy happiness.

Asking open-ended questions—who, what, when, where—can be an effective social tool, but it’s often overused.

Asking too many questions in succession turns the date into an interview, and this often makes people uneasy.

Always be sure you add your own experiences, thoughts, and opinions into the conversation and show who you are.

When someone is giving an answer, be certain to BE PRESENT, rather than plotting in your head on how to keep the conversation going.