The Benefits , of Small Talk.
Happiness experts say that a person's circle of acquaintances are an important source of interconnection. .
Your network of "weak ties," as experts refer to them, can have an important impact on your happiness. .
While we can often feel
the pressure to avoid potential
awkwardness, moving past
these feelings is worth it.
Having conversations with new people is an important and rewarding part of social life, 2018 "Liking Gap" Study, via 'SAGE Journals'.
Yet conversations can
also be intimidating and
anxiety provoking, , 2018 "Liking Gap" Study, via 'SAGE Journals'.
... and this makes people
wonder and worry about what their conversation partners really think of them, 2018 "Liking Gap" Study, via 'SAGE Journals'.
Our studies suggest that after people have conversations they are liked more than they know, 2018 "Liking Gap" Study, via 'The New York Times'.
Researchers in the field of the psychology of happiness say that we can often misinterpret common social cues.
If someone’s looking at their watch, it could be because they’re not interested, , Dr. Gillian Sandstrom, University of Sussex,
via 'The New York Times'.
... but it could also be because they’re meeting someone in 10 minutes and they need to keep an eye on the clock, Dr. Gillian Sandstrom, University of Sussex,
via 'The New York Times'.
If it's clear that you have been rejected, researchers recommend a simple mental strategy to avoid taking it personally.
Remind yourself that they
don’t know you, so they’re not rejecting you based on
who you are, Dr. Gillian Sandstrom, University of Sussex,
via 'The New York Times'.
Experts say that part of what makes the risk worth it is the chance to learn something new.
I once talked to someone on public transportation and learned that people can ride ostriches. Everybody has a story, Dr. Gillian Sandstrom, University of Sussex,
via 'The New York Times'