The virtues of humility and charity are crucial for being able to speak to strangers and make new friends / contacts comfortably.

Humility = our ego doesn't get in the way of us making a new friend / contact. Humility prevents self-centeredness that makes us believe we're better than others and also worse than others. If we are afraid of being seen as inferior, we have too much pride and should embrace humility.

Charity = a genuine desire to benefit the lives of the people we meet almost guarantees a positive interaction.

To make new friends on text, send messages quickly...

When you're texting someone and you text back straight away, they'll normally text back within about 10 seconds

If you can 'rally' the conversation (you know in tennis where you have a 'rally'? Like when you go back and forth)

Here's the key insight:

When we respond quickly it can make what we say seem authentic because if it's quick it's usually truthful, but in order to lie, the brain needs to figure out a few chess moves. Soneobe who's not being true to themselves usually wait to think "how should I respond to this"...

Like in text conversations with romantic interests - if you're sat there trying to think of what to say, that is very weird. Like, that's not you who's responding- that who you think she wants to talk to. By not being yourself, you're literally telling her…

Social skills play a big role in opening doors of opportunity, but humility is the key to ensuring those doors stay open- no one likes a prideful person. I will write a blogpost about the difference between good pride and bad pride...

But staying humble is essential because it allows us to continually grow and improve ourselves- some people prevent self-growth by not being able to learn from others.

One common problem many people face is the fear of appearing weak or inadequate when practicing humility. In today's competitive world, there is often a pressure to showcase confidence and success at all times, which can deter us from embracing humility. This fear of vulnerability may lead some to adopt a more boastful or arrogant demeanour to protect their self-image.

Being humble and vulnerable doesn't diminish your worth- it actually enhances our authenticity and makes people more comfortable around us. It's…

One specific piece of advice on social skills is to practice active listening. When engaging in conversations, make a conscious effort to truly listen to the other person without interruption or distraction. Show genuine interest in what they are saying, maintain eye contact, and ask thoughtful questions. By giving others your undivided attention and validating their thoughts and feelings, you can foster stronger connections and create a more positive and engaging social interaction.