Socializing
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Small Talk
I’ve been watching a lot of Monk reruns lately. I love trying to figure out the case and identify the murderer before Monk or the police do. Plus, I can relate to Monk. I don’t suffer from his phobias, but I am socially awkward. Like Monk, I have a hard time making small talk with co-workers and acquaintances. Monk deals with this problem by making conversation flash cards. He writes down questions, anecdotes, facts about pop culture, and even commentary on sporting events on flashcards. Then he will pull these cards out of his pocket and read them verbatim during a discussion. It’s pretty awkward. While I don’t recommend walking…
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The Acquaintance Zone
Do you have a hard time letting people into your life? I often hear people talking about being relegated to the “friendship zone.” They are usually talking about not being taken seriously as a romantic partner. They would like to be seen as a potential romantic interest, but the object of their affection has made it clear that they can only be friends. Introverts tend to take this concept to a whole other level. We take people who simply want to be our friends, and we regulate them to the “acquaintance zone.” Sometimes we do this without even realizing it. I know that I have been in situations where someone…
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Reaching Your People Limit
Do you ever feel as if you’ve reached your people limit? Like you’ve had all the social interaction you can handle, and if you’re forced to converse with one more person today, it won’t be pretty? I do. I start off the day with the best of intentions. Maybe my husband has planned an outing for us and his friends. Maybe I’m spending the day with the in-laws. Or maybe I’ve planned a fun-filled day for the family. I tell myself that the day will be great. I’m going to be fun and bubbly. I’m going to be kind and nice. I’m going to keep all the snarky comments that…