Learn to Chat with Random People You Meet
Walking up to someone you don't know and starting talking to them is just like bungee jumping for some people. You may be afraid to talk to random people simply because you're not used to doing so. The first thing you have to remember is that they are people too, just like you, so what's the worst thing that could happen? After you get to know someone, you should also think about when to know that you have found a good friend. There are some people you should make sure to keep in your life, as they are valuable. However, to get there, you should follow the tips that we have come up with.
Ways talk to random people
1. Practice
Keep in mind that talking to random people is a skill just like any other. This means the more you do it, the easier it will be. After a while it will seem absolutely natural and all that anxiety you feel now will be gone.
2. Attend events alone
As scary as this may sound, sometimes you have to force yourself to adapt. Go to social events alone so that you will have to walk up to people and talk to them. The first step is always difficult, but there is nothing you can't get used to.
3. Get help from friends
If you aren't thrilled if you have to chat with random people, you might want to ask a friend to help you. The situation doesn't seem so scary anymore if you have a friendly face around. After a while you will work up the courage to do it on your own.
4. Stop overthinking
The more you think about your fears, the stronger they get. Your mind will come up with all kinds of scary scenarios that will only scare you instead of making you more secure. If you know there will be a social situation in which you will have to talk to random strangers, do your best not to think about it in advance.
5. Fake it like you know them
You know how easy it is to talk to people you know? Just image how easy things would be if you knew everybody. So why not pretend that it is reality? When you have to talk to someone, trick yourself into believing you already know them.
6. Risk rejection
This is the fear that stops most people when they should talk to someone random. Ask yourself: why would they reject you? Would you reject someone who just walked up to you and started talking to you?
Tips for Talking to Random People That Later Could Become Acquaintances or Even Friends if You Play Your Cards Right
So, what should you do when you have to chat with random people? Make sure you keep in mind the following tips:
1. Practice talking to others
If you wish to learn to chat with random people, you have to remember that this is a skill, just like any other. This means that the more you practice it, the better you become. After a while it will become second nature and you won't even remember your social anxiety. However, it is important not to be overwhelmed. In case you feel the whole experience is overwhelming, you should take it slow. Start by setting the goal of talking to two strangers in a week. Increase the number of people you talk to by one per week.
The best way to learn to talk to random strangers is to push yourself a little. There is a thin line between talking too much and not talking enough. You don't want to be too much for people, but that doesn't mean you should allow your anxiety to hold you back. The main point is to get you out of your comfort zone.
2. Attend events alone, no matter how scary that sounds
As scary as it might seem, if you want to meet random people, you will have to put yourself out there. It is a good idea to attend social events on your own. If you don't have a safety net, you will be forced to face your fears and get over them. This technique is useful even if you don't talk to anyone the first couple of times. At least you spend time among strangers, which you don't usually do.
If you want to make sure you will be talking to random people, you may be interested in attending events such as art shows, concerts, book readings, museum exhibitions, gatherings, festivals, and so on. The point is for you to be surrounded by people you never met before, but who share an interest with you.
3. Get help from friends – they will be your safety net
You may have a more outgoing friend who is willing to help you talk with random people. If they are around, you will have more confidence talking to strangers simply because you have a familiar face around. However, you should make sure that your friend doesn't do all the talking. Let them know about your little problem and make sure they allow you and encourage you to talk more than you usually do.
4. Stop overthinking – it's not rocket science
In case you'd really like to talk to people, stop thinking about all the things that could go wrong. If you keep replaying scenarios in your mind of you failing, most probably there will be a glitch, which will only make it more difficult for you the next time. If you find someone you would like to, go there and greet them before your mind has a chance to come up with all kinds of reasons for you not to. Your body will start producing adrenaline which will actually make it easier for you to make the first step. Keep in mind that in this case your mind is your worst enemy.
5. Fake it like you know them – you will only trick yourself
When it comes to random people chat, there is one strange advice you might want to follow: just fake it. If you have to talk to a stranger, such as attending a job interview, or talking to a person you like romantically, the situation could turn out to be quite intimidating. You might feel like the whole world knows how anxious and stressed you are, but the truth is that only you know it. In order to hide it, you should pretend you are self-confident. If you are good enough with pretending, you will fool not only the people around you, but yourself as well.
As another technique, you could also pretend you already know the person in question. Just imagine a scenario where you already met and things went well. This will help you get over your fear of the first encounter. The good thing about this method is that the more you exercise, the easier it will get and after a while you can stop pretending.
6. Risk rejection – it will be worth it
In your mind you should always tell yourself that everything will be alright and you should imagine scenarios with a positive outcome. However, in some cases, when you try to talk to someone random, they might brush you off. This isn't some divine sign that you should stop trying. Maybe they just don't feel like talking. There is no reason for you to take it personally. Think of failure as an exciting new experience. This is a possibility for you to learn and to grow as a person.
If you find some random people to talk to, you have to remember that they are human too. They won't bite, so what's the worst thing that could happen? They might tell you that they are busy or that they wish to be left alone. This is not the end of the world. No matter how self-conscious you are, you have to understand that nobody really analyses your actions but you. You don't have to worry about making a fool of yourself in front of others; they are too busy with their problems to think about yours.
Social anxiety is more common than you would think. If you are afraid of approaching people you should know that others may be just as afraid to approach you, so you are doing them a favor by talking to them. If you think of it this way, you will find it easier to interact with others. If you are worried about what others might think of you, always remember that they are human too and they have their own insecurities to think about, so most probably they will be too busy to think about you.
