How to Be More Open with People
If you find it difficult to open up and relate to people, if you feel awkward or anxious when faced with a situation where you have to speak to a new person, then this article is for you.
Learn New Things
One of the best ways to feel more comfortable and be more open with people is to learn new things. The more you read about and learn about, the more chance you will have of being able to relate to someone on a conversational level. The more you know, the more you’ll have to talk about.
Keep an Eye On Your Non-verbal Cues
Another important thing is to watch how you’re coming across to the other person. Closed body language such as folded arms, crossed legs and having your body angled away from the person can make you seem closed off. This may make the other person feel uncomfortable and the cycle starts over. Try keeping a more open approach to body language and smiling more. Try to keep focus and not get too distracted or caught up in your own thoughts.
Listen Carefully
It’s not uncommon for people who struggle with opening up to people to think about what they’re going to say next so much that they miss most of what the other person is saying. This doesn’t help if you’re trying to be open as it keeps you in your own head. Working on listening to what the person is saying will help you be more present, you may be surprised at how much you open up once you feel like you’re connecting with a person.
Ask Real Questions
It’s far easier to make small talk and ask questions like “how are you?”, “how’s work?” etc. but the thing with this is it will probably not make you feel comfortable with the person, because deep down you both know it’s just small talk. Asking harder questions such as “what are your views on religion?” will allow you to be more open with people and understanding them on a deeper level.
Ignore Your Fear
Fear is one of the biggest reasons that people find it hard to open up. People tend to try and avoid opening up over fear of being judged or disliked by others. But you will never get better at being open if you don’t do it.
A food writer with a passion for classic Americana. Toby specialises in exploring the history, culture, and flavour profiles of traditional diner fare—from stacked pancakes to sizzling burgers.
