“TO BE INTERESTING, BE INTERESTED,” Dale Carnegie wrote in his 1936 book, How to Win Friends and Influence People. Those words of wisdom still hold true—whether that means taking a genuine interest in the people around you or diving into the hobbies and subjects that light you up.
Being an interesting person is not something that is innate; it is cultivated through small choices and actions over time. So, like many interpersonal skills, the more you practice, the more natural they’ll feel to the point where you don’t have to think about it.
Read on to find out what small steps you can take to bring out the most interesting facets of yourself. 1. Strike up a conversation every day. Challenge yourself to reach out to someone each day. That is a quick phone call with a friend or relative or chatting with the person in line behind you at the coffee shop.
Listen. Interact. Ask questions.
Learn. Others are drawn to you, sensing your openness and curiosity. You will also feel better about yourself, and your relationships will flourish.
2. Ask interesting questions. Too often when we meet someone new, we fall back on the same questions like “Where are you from?” and “What do you do?”
n Interesting people ask interesting questions: “What’s the skill you’re trying to get better at right now?” or “Who is someone who inspired you recently and why?”
3. Follow your curiosity. Shift into a more curious mindset, where you are asking questions and engaging with your environment in a more mindful, intentional, and often interactive way. If you hear about a great book, you might take a moment to look up the synopsis and read a few reviews to see if it piques your curiosity. Maybe even purchase the book and suggest putting together an informal book club with some friends.
4. Take yourself on dates. Carve out time each week for an “artist date,” which is described as a weekly expedition to explore something that enchants or interests you.
5. Open yourself up to other perspectives. Whether through books, articles, podcasts, other forms of media, travel, or good old-fashioned conversations, the most interesting people are those who can consider other people’s points of view and experiences. Be open to hearing about how others see the world and live their lives.
The interesting people we find ourselves drawn to are typically knowledgeable or passionate about something and openly share their knowledge and passion with others. Each of our lived experiences are unique and beautiful, and that alone makes us interesting people.
Daniel J Jachimiak, BA, is a writer and speaker. Dan can be reached at djachimiak@bex.net or 419-787-2036. ✲
