Genuine question. Even with my closest friends, sometimes there will be times while we hang out where there’s just a long awkward silence and neither of us knows what to say. It’s not a comfortable silence either, it’s just awkward. And some days we hang out are really fun, while others are more quiet/awkward. Honestly speaking, is this a common/normal experience, even for people with good social skills/lots of friends? Or am I just really boring sometimes? I don’t have a way of knowing what other people’s one-on-one social interactions are like, so please be truly honest with me.
6 comments
Of course it is normal! I think the issue is that we automatically assume the silences to be awkward. It’s hard to overcome that feeling but there are just going to be times when it is silent. Silences allow you to take the conversation in another direction if you’d like. Practice sitting in it, be mindful about the moment with your friends, and as cliche as it sounds be yourself. And if you don’t know who “yourself” is yet, keep hanging out with people and discover!
Yes. Normal people don’t feel pressured to fill every second with blabber
I would say with people you are comfortable with (usually close friends and family) the silence wont be awkward, but there will definitely be silence.
Yep that’s normal, even more so just hanging out in the quiet is normal. No one will always have things to say to someone 24/7 forever. It’s fine to be in the silence.
It might be awkward for just you. When I hang out with friends there’s always silences but It feels comfortable, and Im usually daydreaming or just thinking of stuff during the silences.
Savor the silence. Those we are closest to don’t expect us to talk all the time. It would be exhausting.
Others you can fill silence by changing something. Get a drink, go to the bathroom, offer an activity , play a game, or start to make a plan.