Recently, I heard a story of a woman who relocated to a new community and was unhappy because months later, she had made no friends. She was completely at a loss as to why.
But in telling her story, she continuously used the pronoun "I" not even asking about the well-being of the person she was speaking to. She never realized she had not taken any interest in the other person, only concerned about herself.
She and you and I will make friends if we are a friend. That is, if we take a sincere interest in the well-being of others, as we ask them about themselves and listen carefully to their replies. One very effective measurement of how interested we are in them, is whether we can go five minutes without saying "I" instead encouraging you to speak, which is to make the conversation about you, the other person.
For example: How are you? How is your family? What is new with you? What is special in your life? What is of interest to you? Have you seen a good movie lately? Have you recently read an interesting book? Is there music you enjoy?
These are but a few conversation starters that tell others you really care about them, as you then listen to their replies. Making friends is easy if you are a friend, one interested in and supportive of other people, most of whom will be delighted to speak with someone else who cares about them and their well-being.
Dick
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