For instance, you might admire how pretty your smile is, or how good you are at making people laugh.
For instance, you might tweet about how you had a tough day at work. If you live with a chronic illness, you might shed some light on your daily experiences.
If you sign up for a cooking class, you could say something like, “I love being able to experiment with new ingredients in the kitchen. What are some of your favorite go-to recipes?” If you join a biking group, you might open up and say something like, “Bike rides are so therapeutic for me. After a tough day, a long bike ride always makes me feel better. ”
You might ask someone how their weekend went. Once they’ve shared their story, jump in and describe what you did on the weekend. Asking questions is a great way to see what you have in common with other people. Chances are, the more questions you ask, the more comfortable you’ll feel opening up later on.
If you’re talking to your partner, you might say, “I feel like we don’t get a lot of quality time together” instead of saying “You spend too much time at work. ” If you’re chatting with a friend, you could say, “I feel like our friendship isn’t a priority to you” instead of saying “You never answer my texts. ”
For example, say something like “I’m so happy we were able to meet for lunch” instead of saying “Are you happy to be here?” Statements like, “I always enjoy spending time with you” “I loved getting to chat with you” and “I hope we can hang out again soon” are some other “I” statements you can try.
For instance, instead of talking to a friend about school or your favorite TV show, you might talk about something that’s stressing you out.
For example, a close friend betrayed your trust and shared a secret, you might have trouble trusting other people.
Don’t worry—there are lots of mental health options out there, even if you can’t afford a therapist.
