[BIZ TIPS] How an Awkward Introvert Makes Friends Around the Globe
BY POPULAR REQUEST: I’m breaking apart a topic that I’ve been asked about by so many people in recent months and how I seem to make friends fairly rapidly and seemingly everywhere I go in my global travels. I’ve even surprised myself at times, because I fully identify as being not only an introvert (which is not synonymous with shy, by the way), but I’m the first one to say that I’m usually the most awkward person in the room. At least, that’s how I feel about myself, ha!
I’ve classified this episode under the Saturday business/podcasting episodes, but everything I talk about today could apply to anyone wanting to make new connections of any kind.
I want to make something very clear: f it ever looks like things come super easily to me socially, don’t be fooled. Sometimes they do, but:
A) That didn’t come naturally to me and took many years of practice.
B) I often still feel very socially awkward and will replay cringe-worthy moments in my head later on, having those “WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO SAY THAT SUPER WEIRD THING” moments in time.
And yet…living here in Bali, it’s been pointed out to me that I seem have a knack for bringing people together from various circles and creating new friendships that may not have existed otherwise.
After multiple people mentioned this, I thought back and in high school I was the one who didn’t really fit in anywhere. I was friends with various cliques, groups and circles, but not really IN any of them. And yet I often ended up being the random connection that would bring different groups or people together who normally would never have crossed paths.
It seems to come somewhat naturally to me at times, so I’ve really dug deep here to try and break apart what it is that I do to make genuine, real connections with so many people from a wide range of backgrounds and providing many different examples of how this has worked in real life.
Plus, we’re talking about how to remove the F-off from our foreheads (we ALL have that on occasion!) to open yourself up to connection, the little gestures that go such a long way towards building relationships, and recognizing how much you have to learn from other people when you simply show some interest.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this! Am I the only one that regularly feels awkward in social situations? Yes? Haha! Please DM me and let me know 😉
REFERENCES
Luke Morris @islandofluke
Claire Falconer @clairefalconer__
Room to Grow Podcast episode #93, Choosing Your Family & Establishing Healthy Boundaries
Room to Grow Podcast episode #108, How to Set Boundaries: The Key to Healthy Relationships
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