I have this really weird habit of being selectively awkward. For instance around most people including strangers I usually do a solid job of making conversation and a good impression, it wouldn’t even be uncommon for me to be the center of attention and have everyone cracking up.
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However, in some cases i’m extremly awkward and uncomfortable most of the time its with my parents. We didn’t grow up with the best relationship, I don’t think I ever really had any conversations with them that had any substance to them. A good example is when I finally turned 18 my dad just said to me, “You can go to prison now.”, that was more or less my present.
Now they’re getting older and I’ve moved out so i’m looking for new ways to try and talk or hang out with them but it’s been really hard. I know they’re going to get older and eventually pass so I want to spend time getting to actually know them but so far every attempt has been pretty unsuccessful. Has anyone had this issue before and fixed it? Also, I’m not looking for any cut your losses kind of responses.
1 comment
I used to have horrible anxiety about talking to people. I dreaded small talk and conversation. Eventually I realized that people often actually WANT to hear what you have to say.
What worked for me was listening to a lot of podcasts (lex Friedman is my favorite) listening to 4 hour long conversations with consistent deep chit chatting slowly gave me the skills and confidence to start trying to have deep conversations myself. Now a days I can pretty much have a conversation about anything with anyone and all it took was practicing. Don’t be afraid to slip up and have awkward moments they’re only as awkward as you make them! Just chat literally about anything! Once you get into the groove you’ll start seeing pauses and opportunities where people want you to speak or interrupt them, you just have to balance out taking turns.