According to this New York Times article, we're more likely to NOT hear what those closest to us are really saying because we think we already know what they are going to say. Ouch.

Sometimes we are most helpful when we simply listen and be with each other.

Linking to Episode #2 of Laura Tremaine’s 10 Things To Tell You podcast titled: Are You Lonely?

Are you lonely? What a great question to ask yourself, your partner, or your friends.

Admitting and identifying a problem is a first step to finding a solution. Being honest about if you’re feeling lonely and disconnected from others may be the beginning of finding new or deeper connections.

Is there someone that you can ask, “Are you lonely?”

If someone asked you, “Are you lonely?” how would you respond?

November brings on a season of being social (Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, office holiday parties, family gatherings, New Year's). Are you ready? Or maybe not?...

I'm posting this a little early in case it might help you out with all of the conversations you'll be having soon.

• An article about being a better conversationalist.
• How checking in with a friend can mean so much.
• An article about those in your life who are more introverted.

Article: 3 Tips To Have Better Conversations
"Be genuine. Be interested. And stop hogging the conversation."

Article: Just Check In
"It’s amazing what a few well-timed words delivered via text message can do to make you feel loved and supported."

Article: 13 'Rules' For Being Friends With An Introvert
"If you have to invite other people, at least give us a heads up. There’s hardly anything worse for introverts than being ambushed by a raucous crowd when they were expecting a quietly intimate chat."

How was August for you? Are you ready to head into the fall?

I've read some great articles this month. Here they are:

• An article on saying goodbye to online dating, and going back to the old-school way of meeting people in real life.
• Making friends as an adult can be challenging. This article takes a look at what science has to say about it!
• And for fun: A never-ending "to-do" list can be discouraging. How about writing a "Done!" list?
  

Article:
This Woman Quit Dating Apps and Decided to Meet Men IRL, and It Changed Everything
"The more comfortable I became talking to everyone, the more confidence I gained talking to men. I began living openly, boldly, and unapologetically."

Article:
How To Make Friends, According to Science
"A recent study out of the University of Kansas found that it takes about 50 hours of socializing to go from acquaintance to casual friend, an additional 40 hours to become a “real” friend, and a total of 200 hours to become a close friend."

Article:
The New, Supremely Satisfying Way I End My Day.
"What helps me to keep on keepin' on is to truly give myself credit for the things I get done each day—both personally and professionally. And to that end, I've developed an auspicious habit: I write a to-do list in reverse at the end of the day."

Have you ever been told, "You've got this!" by a well-meaning friend when you're facing a nerve-wracking obstacle? So vague, and is it really true? How do we know?

This article breaks down how to talk with friends that actually empowers them to move forward with confidence. Encouragement that helps someone feel more in control and that's grounded in actual fact has a lot more value than a general "You've got this."

Happy March! This is a round-up of what has caught my eye (and ear) this past month.

• An article about the importance of having close friendships.
• A podcast about how to make a friend.
• A book about habit change.

 
Article:
In Nir Eyal’s article, Happiness Hack: This One Ritual Made Me Much Happier, he writes about how having good friends is crucial for your mental and physical health. Intentionally maintaining friendships keeps them alive. If friendships aren’t maintained, Eyal writes: “This is how friendships die- they starve to death.” His solution? A “kibbutz” style friendship.

Podcast:
Were you ever taught about how to make a friend? How do we learn this? The Lazy Genius Episode #13: The Lazy Genius Makes a Friend is a very short introduction on the basics of making a friend.

Book:
In Better Than Before, Gretchen Rubin writes about how we can develop healthy habits and eliminate the negative habits. She writes about the importance of knowing yourself and how you work, and how knowing this will help make or break these habits. She combines research and personal stories into a very readable, practical, and motivating book.