7 Tips on Finding the Courage to Open Up

People are quite sensitive by nature, but only a few of us actually ‘show it.’ The reason we usually prefer to keep things to ourselves and to ‘deal with our own baggage’ is because we are scared that others may judge us or consider us weak. However, sometimes it is essential to open up, whether it be to your spouse, your family, your friends or your therapist. It is important to be honest and direct about your struggles – you cannot get help from others unless you let them know that you need it, and that is usually the most difficult part, since it takes a lot of courage. Here are seven tips on finding the courage to open up: 1. Know What You’re Feeling The first and perhaps most important step toward finding the courage you need to open up is to identify and name your emotion. You will need to explain your feelings and emotions to the person you are opening up to, and it’s truly challenging to name the emotion that you feel deep inside. If you are able to do that, you will see that other people will find it a lot easier to understand and accept the things you have to say. We connect with others through emotions and language. 7 Ways to Be More Productive and Efficient at Work 2. Spend More Time Together Another important thing you need to do if you want to open up to someone is to spend more time with that person. Not only will you feel more familiar with them, but you will also learn their reactions, making it a lot easier to find common ground. People react differently to unusual or even shocking news, and when you spend more time with the one who is about to receive the news, you will create an emotional and mental connection with them, meaning that it will be slightly more difficult for them to react negatively. All you have to do is to set up a specific day and time when you would like to meet with the person – you can play sports, work out, eat dinner together and just enjoy the pleasant activities that make you feel close.

3. Never Expect Anyone to Read Your Mind This is one of the most common mistakes we tend to make when we try to open up to someone. People are not mind-readers, and we all know how complex the human mind and emotions can get. Not even those who have been close to you for decades are able to know what’s going on in your mind, and you should never expect them to be able to. It’s important to not have any set expectations from the other person, since this will help to prevent disappointment. Nobody knows for sure what you want, and only a few people are even curious to find out. Share your experiences, emotions, desires and plans with the other person, rather than waiting for them to guess what is happening deep inside you. Even if they want to read your mind, they simply can’t – and they may even misinterpret your feelings, which can cause even more harm. 4. Try to Let the Other Person Take the Lead One of the easiest ways to share something personal is to actually let the other person take the lead by putting the ball in their court, so to speak. This will offer you deeper insight into their way of thinking. If they are wondering how you’re feeling, let the other person ask the questions, since it is sometimes much easier to answer a precise question than to start talking about something in a sort of monologue. You will find your words a lot easier to come by when answering specific questions. However, it is very important to note that people react differently, and this approach may not always be the best one – just try broaching the subject of what you’d like to discuss and see if the person’s natural curiosity takes over.

5. Never Open Up When You Are Angry! This is the cardinal rule of sharing your feelings with others. When you’re angry, you may be tempted to express that anger through hurtful words. Never express yourself when you are angry, since you are likely to do a lot more harm than good – if you feel your tension level rising, simply wait until you calm down. This can be very difficult, especially if you are an impulsive person. However, it would be even more difficult to fix the damage done by hurtful words. Besides this, we all know that we don’t usually mean the things we say when we are angry. There is an old saying that goes like this: “Words are like stones: once you throw a stone in the water, you will never get it back.” 6. Try to Find Common Ground Another great way to create a friendly and familiar environment with the other person is by finding something that you are both interested in. It could be a movie, a game, a sport or any other hobby that might spark a mutual interest and draw the two of you closer. Establishing common ground like this is certainly much better for opening a difficult conversation than resorting to the classic ‘small talk.’ 7. Relax! The final tip to finding the courage you need to open up is to simply relax. It often happens that we create gloom-and-doom scenarios deep inside our minds – scenarios that remain there most of the time, while the reality is totally different. How many times has it happened that you assumed a person would react badly to something only to realize that you were overly concerned, and the other person is fine? Make sure never to presume the feelings, thoughts or emotions of the other person – you may be terribly wrong. Let them speak for themselves before drawing any conclusions! These are the seven most important tips to carefully consider before opening up to someone about a serious emotional matter.

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7 Tips on Finding the Courage to Open Up

People are quite sensitive by nature, but only a few of us actually ‘show it.’ The reason we usually prefer to keep things to ourselves and to ‘deal with our own baggage’ is because we are scared that others may judge us or consider us weak. However, sometimes it is essential to open up, whether it be to your spouse, your family, your friends or your therapist. It is important to be honest and direct about your struggles – you cannot get help from others unless you let them know that you need it, and that is usually the most difficult part, since it takes a lot of courage. Here are seven tips on finding the courage to open up: 1. Know What You’re Feeling The first and perhaps most important step toward finding the courage you need to open up is to identify and name your emotion. You will need to explain your feelings and emotions to the person you are opening up to, and it’s truly challenging to name the emotion that you feel deep inside. If you are able to do that, you will see that other people will find it a lot easier to understand and accept the things you have to say. We connect with others through emotions and language. 7 Ways to Be More Productive and Efficient at Work 2. Spend More Time Together Another important thing you need to do if you want to open up to someone is to spend more time with that person. Not only will you feel more familiar with them, but you will also learn their reactions, making it a lot easier to find common ground. People react differently to unusual or even shocking news, and when you spend more time with the one who is about to receive the news, you will create an emotional and mental connection with them, meaning that it will be slightly more difficult for them to react negatively. All you have to do is to set up a specific day and time when you would like to meet with the person – you can play sports, work out, eat dinner together and just enjoy the pleasant activities that make you feel close.

3. Never Expect Anyone to Read Your Mind This is one of the most common mistakes we tend to make when we try to open up to someone. People are not mind-readers, and we all know how complex the human mind and emotions can get. Not even those who have been close to you for decades are able to know what’s going on in your mind, and you should never expect them to be able to. It’s important to not have any set expectations from the other person, since this will help to prevent disappointment. Nobody knows for sure what you want, and only a few people are even curious to find out. Share your experiences, emotions, desires and plans with the other person, rather than waiting for them to guess what is happening deep inside you. Even if they want to read your mind, they simply can’t – and they may even misinterpret your feelings, which can cause even more harm. 4. Try to Let the Other Person Take the Lead One of the easiest ways to share something personal is to actually let the other person take the lead by putting the ball in their court, so to speak. This will offer you deeper insight into their way of thinking. If they are wondering how you’re feeling, let the other person ask the questions, since it is sometimes much easier to answer a precise question than to start talking about something in a sort of monologue. You will find your words a lot easier to come by when answering specific questions. However, it is very important to note that people react differently, and this approach may not always be the best one – just try broaching the subject of what you’d like to discuss and see if the person’s natural curiosity takes over.

5. Never Open Up When You Are Angry! This is the cardinal rule of sharing your feelings with others. When you’re angry, you may be tempted to express that anger through hurtful words. Never express yourself when you are angry, since you are likely to do a lot more harm than good – if you feel your tension level rising, simply wait until you calm down. This can be very difficult, especially if you are an impulsive person. However, it would be even more difficult to fix the damage done by hurtful words. Besides this, we all know that we don’t usually mean the things we say when we are angry. There is an old saying that goes like this: “Words are like stones: once you throw a stone in the water, you will never get it back.” 6. Try to Find Common Ground Another great way to create a friendly and familiar environment with the other person is by finding something that you are both interested in. It could be a movie, a game, a sport or any other hobby that might spark a mutual interest and draw the two of you closer. Establishing common ground like this is certainly much better for opening a difficult conversation than resorting to the classic ‘small talk.’ 7. Relax! The final tip to finding the courage you need to open up is to simply relax. It often happens that we create gloom-and-doom scenarios deep inside our minds – scenarios that remain there most of the time, while the reality is totally different. How many times has it happened that you assumed a person would react badly to something only to realize that you were overly concerned, and the other person is fine? Make sure never to presume the feelings, thoughts or emotions of the other person – you may be terribly wrong. Let them speak for themselves before drawing any conclusions! These are the seven most important tips to carefully consider before opening up to someone about a serious emotional matter.

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7 Tips on Finding the Courage to Open Up

People are quite sensitive by nature, but only a few of us actually ‘show it.’ The reason we usually prefer to keep things to ourselves and to ‘deal with our own baggage’ is because we are scared that others may judge us or consider us weak. However, sometimes it is essential to open up, whether it be to your spouse, your family, your friends or your therapist. It is important to be honest and direct about your struggles – you cannot get help from others unless you let them know that you need it, and that is usually the most difficult part, since it takes a lot of courage. Here are seven tips on finding the courage to open up: 1. Know What You’re Feeling The first and perhaps most important step toward finding the courage you need to open up is to identify and name your emotion. You will need to explain your feelings and emotions to the person you are opening up to, and it’s truly challenging to name the emotion that you feel deep inside. If you are able to do that, you will see that other people will find it a lot easier to understand and accept the things you have to say. We connect with others through emotions and language. 2. Spend More Time Together Another important thing you need to do if you want to open up to someone is to spend more time with that person. Not only will you feel more familiar with them, but you will also learn their reactions, making it a lot easier to find common ground. People react differently to unusual or even shocking news, and when you spend more time with the one who is about to receive the news, you will create an emotional and mental connection with them, meaning that it will be slightly more difficult for them to react negatively. All you have to do is to set up a specific day and time when you would like to meet with the person – you can play sports, work out, eat dinner together and just enjoy the pleasant activities that make you feel close. 8 Quick and Healthy Frozen Meals

3. Never Expect Anyone to Read Your Mind This is one of the most common mistakes we tend to make when we try to open up to someone. People are not mind-readers, and we all know how complex the human mind and emotions can get. Not even those who have been close to you for decades are able to know what’s going on in your mind, and you should never expect them to be able to. It’s important to not have any set expectations from the other person, since this will help to prevent disappointment. Nobody knows for sure what you want, and only a few people are even curious to find out. Share your experiences, emotions, desires and plans with the other person, rather than waiting for them to guess what is happening deep inside you. Even if they want to read your mind, they simply can’t – and they may even misinterpret your feelings, which can cause even more harm. 4. Try to Let the Other Person Take the Lead One of the easiest ways to share something personal is to actually let the other person take the lead by putting the ball in their court, so to speak. This will offer you deeper insight into their way of thinking. If they are wondering how you’re feeling, let the other person ask the questions, since it is sometimes much easier to answer a precise question than to start talking about something in a sort of monologue. You will find your words a lot easier to come by when answering specific questions. However, it is very important to note that people react differently, and this approach may not always be the best one – just try broaching the subject of what you’d like to discuss and see if the person’s natural curiosity takes over.

5. Never Open Up When You Are Angry! This is the cardinal rule of sharing your feelings with others. When you’re angry, you may be tempted to express that anger through hurtful words. Never express yourself when you are angry, since you are likely to do a lot more harm than good – if you feel your tension level rising, simply wait until you calm down. This can be very difficult, especially if you are an impulsive person. However, it would be even more difficult to fix the damage done by hurtful words. Besides this, we all know that we don’t usually mean the things we say when we are angry. There is an old saying that goes like this: “Words are like stones: once you throw a stone in the water, you will never get it back.” 6. Try to Find Common Ground Another great way to create a friendly and familiar environment with the other person is by finding something that you are both interested in. It could be a movie, a game, a sport or any other hobby that might spark a mutual interest and draw the two of you closer. Establishing common ground like this is certainly much better for opening a difficult conversation than resorting to the classic ‘small talk.’ 7. Relax! The final tip to finding the courage you need to open up is to simply relax. It often happens that we create gloom-and-doom scenarios deep inside our minds – scenarios that remain there most of the time, while the reality is totally different. How many times has it happened that you assumed a person would react badly to something only to realize that you were overly concerned, and the other person is fine? Make sure never to presume the feelings, thoughts or emotions of the other person – you may be terribly wrong. Let them speak for themselves before drawing any conclusions! These are the seven most important tips to carefully consider before opening up to someone about a serious emotional matter.

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7 Tips on Finding the Courage to Open Up

People are quite sensitive by nature, but only a few of us actually ‘show it.’ The reason we usually prefer to keep things to ourselves and to ‘deal with our own baggage’ is because we are scared that others may judge us or consider us weak. However, sometimes it is essential to open up, whether it be to your spouse, your family, your friends or your therapist. It is important to be honest and direct about your struggles – you cannot get help from others unless you let them know that you need it, and that is usually the most difficult part, since it takes a lot of courage. Here are seven tips on finding the courage to open up: 1. Know What You’re Feeling The first and perhaps most important step toward finding the courage you need to open up is to identify and name your emotion. You will need to explain your feelings and emotions to the person you are opening up to, and it’s truly challenging to name the emotion that you feel deep inside. If you are able to do that, you will see that other people will find it a lot easier to understand and accept the things you have to say. We connect with others through emotions and language. 2. Spend More Time Together Another important thing you need to do if you want to open up to someone is to spend more time with that person. Not only will you feel more familiar with them, but you will also learn their reactions, making it a lot easier to find common ground. People react differently to unusual or even shocking news, and when you spend more time with the one who is about to receive the news, you will create an emotional and mental connection with them, meaning that it will be slightly more difficult for them to react negatively. All you have to do is to set up a specific day and time when you would like to meet with the person – you can play sports, work out, eat dinner together and just enjoy the pleasant activities that make you feel close. 8 Quick and Healthy Frozen Meals

3. Never Expect Anyone to Read Your Mind This is one of the most common mistakes we tend to make when we try to open up to someone. People are not mind-readers, and we all know how complex the human mind and emotions can get. Not even those who have been close to you for decades are able to know what’s going on in your mind, and you should never expect them to be able to. It’s important to not have any set expectations from the other person, since this will help to prevent disappointment. Nobody knows for sure what you want, and only a few people are even curious to find out. Share your experiences, emotions, desires and plans with the other person, rather than waiting for them to guess what is happening deep inside you. Even if they want to read your mind, they simply can’t – and they may even misinterpret your feelings, which can cause even more harm. 4. Try to Let the Other Person Take the Lead One of the easiest ways to share something personal is to actually let the other person take the lead by putting the ball in their court, so to speak. This will offer you deeper insight into their way of thinking. If they are wondering how you’re feeling, let the other person ask the questions, since it is sometimes much easier to answer a precise question than to start talking about something in a sort of monologue. You will find your words a lot easier to come by when answering specific questions. However, it is very important to note that people react differently, and this approach may not always be the best one – just try broaching the subject of what you’d like to discuss and see if the person’s natural curiosity takes over.

5. Never Open Up When You Are Angry! This is the cardinal rule of sharing your feelings with others. When you’re angry, you may be tempted to express that anger through hurtful words. Never express yourself when you are angry, since you are likely to do a lot more harm than good – if you feel your tension level rising, simply wait until you calm down. This can be very difficult, especially if you are an impulsive person. However, it would be even more difficult to fix the damage done by hurtful words. Besides this, we all know that we don’t usually mean the things we say when we are angry. There is an old saying that goes like this: “Words are like stones: once you throw a stone in the water, you will never get it back.” 6. Try to Find Common Ground Another great way to create a friendly and familiar environment with the other person is by finding something that you are both interested in. It could be a movie, a game, a sport or any other hobby that might spark a mutual interest and draw the two of you closer. Establishing common ground like this is certainly much better for opening a difficult conversation than resorting to the classic ‘small talk.’ 7. Relax! The final tip to finding the courage you need to open up is to simply relax. It often happens that we create gloom-and-doom scenarios deep inside our minds – scenarios that remain there most of the time, while the reality is totally different. How many times has it happened that you assumed a person would react badly to something only to realize that you were overly concerned, and the other person is fine? Make sure never to presume the feelings, thoughts or emotions of the other person – you may be terribly wrong. Let them speak for themselves before drawing any conclusions! These are the seven most important tips to carefully consider before opening up to someone about a serious emotional matter.

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free advice THINGS SHY WOMEN CAN DO TO TOTALLY OPEN UP TO GUYS

Being single and shy around men can feel terrible, but the thing to remember is that this is totally common. A lot of women feel like they have no idea how to approach guys, or are completely terrified of being embarrassed for even trying. The worst part of this is that these fears and doubts are exactly what keep women from ever finding someone to be with. Here are some simple conversational tips to help give you some perspective on chatting with guys. 5 THINGS WOMEN SHOULD ABSOLUTELY NOT SAY ON DATES 1. He’s Awkward Too Did you know that men can feel as exposed and anxious striking up conversations as women? It’s true, but the difference is that men are stereotypically expected to be less communicative than women, and use that expectation to avoid overcoming their fear. Women have to actually overcome their anxieties to live up to the stereotype that they should be bubbly and talkative. Knowing that everybody is afraid of looking silly or being hurt is actually a huge advantage for you. Knowing that the man you want to talk to is vulnerable too gives you two things you can use in starting a conversation with him: you’ll be more confident knowing that you are not the only one who is nervous, and you can offer him someone to talk to who is not going to hurt his feelings. That safety is all anyone really wants in a significant other, and it’s what they are looking for when they talk to someone for the first time. 2. Men Speak a Different Language, and So Can You There is a reason men have a reputation for being less chatty: Men don’t communicate the same way that women do. It’s not that they don’t communicate well, or that they don’t have things to say. Men are less likely than women to focus on a particular topic and not make connections between it and other problems they are having, which is the kind of free association that women use in conversation. In a way, women who can communicate well with women are at a real disadvantage with men. The key to talking to men is to communicate on their level. In a lot of ways that means slowing down. Don’t jump between topics, and keep what you’re saying to the point. You don’t have to think like a man—but what you’re thinking shouldn’t be what you’re saying. In a way, you won’t feel as much pressure in the conversation by sharing less than you would in a conversation with a woman. 3. Leave Him Wanting More Knowing when to end a conversation may be the hardest thing to accomplish when talking to men. Not only does managing to pull away from a conversation take some finesse, you may not want to stop talking to a guy when you are having a great time talking to him. The other danger is ending a conversation too soon—you’re not going to entice him if you run away right after you say hi. If you know you are clicking with a guy and he has been invested in talking to you, you are not going to lose that connection if you pull away from him and start to mingle with other people. If anything, he will want you to come back just as much as you want to go back to him. After a little while you can make your way back to him. If you are interested in learning some unconventional ways to get a guy attracted to you. If you have relationship problems and want to fix them, or if you simply want to understand men better in general, then check out this video:

Read More

free advice THINGS SHY WOMEN CAN DO TO TOTALLY OPEN UP TO GUYS

Being single and shy around men can feel terrible, but the thing to remember is that this is totally common. A lot of women feel like they have no idea how to approach guys, or are completely terrified of being embarrassed for even trying. The worst part of this is that these fears and doubts are exactly what keep women from ever finding someone to be with. Here are some simple conversational tips to help give you some perspective on chatting with guys. 5 THINGS WOMEN SHOULD ABSOLUTELY NOT SAY ON DATES 1. He’s Awkward Too Did you know that men can feel as exposed and anxious striking up conversations as women? It’s true, but the difference is that men are stereotypically expected to be less communicative than women, and use that expectation to avoid overcoming their fear. Women have to actually overcome their anxieties to live up to the stereotype that they should be bubbly and talkative. Knowing that everybody is afraid of looking silly or being hurt is actually a huge advantage for you. Knowing that the man you want to talk to is vulnerable too gives you two things you can use in starting a conversation with him: you’ll be more confident knowing that you are not the only one who is nervous, and you can offer him someone to talk to who is not going to hurt his feelings. That safety is all anyone really wants in a significant other, and it’s what they are looking for when they talk to someone for the first time. 2. Men Speak a Different Language, and So Can You There is a reason men have a reputation for being less chatty: Men don’t communicate the same way that women do. It’s not that they don’t communicate well, or that they don’t have things to say. Men are less likely than women to focus on a particular topic and not make connections between it and other problems they are having, which is the kind of free association that women use in conversation. In a way, women who can communicate well with women are at a real disadvantage with men. The key to talking to men is to communicate on their level. In a lot of ways that means slowing down. Don’t jump between topics, and keep what you’re saying to the point. You don’t have to think like a man—but what you’re thinking shouldn’t be what you’re saying. In a way, you won’t feel as much pressure in the conversation by sharing less than you would in a conversation with a woman. 3. Leave Him Wanting More Knowing when to end a conversation may be the hardest thing to accomplish when talking to men. Not only does managing to pull away from a conversation take some finesse, you may not want to stop talking to a guy when you are having a great time talking to him. The other danger is ending a conversation too soon—you’re not going to entice him if you run away right after you say hi. If you know you are clicking with a guy and he has been invested in talking to you, you are not going to lose that connection if you pull away from him and start to mingle with other people. If anything, he will want you to come back just as much as you want to go back to him. After a little while you can make your way back to him. If you are interested in learning some unconventional ways to get a guy attracted to you. If you have relationship problems and want to fix them, or if you simply want to understand men better in general, then check out this video:

Read More