How to Chat with People

@muffinheals

1) Have an open mind. This is incredibly important as you may encounter things you’ve never heard before. When in doubt, curiosity is always something I fall back on. Judgement erodes trust, so if you ever come across something you disagree with, suspend judgement as much as you can and remain open to changing your opinion.

2) Practice kindness and compassion. Knowing that the person on the other end is a person with thoughts and feelings. Ask yourself, “would I say this to a friend or family member?”

3) Set expectations and know your limits. Some find it help to outline how and when they’re open to chatting in the first few messages; e.g. “Hi, there! Welcome to 7 Cups. I’m [username] and I’ll be here to listen for the next 15 minutes.” Sticking by these can help prevent burnout!

4) Embrace the unknown. The person on the other side may live in a different part of the world with a radically different lifestyle. Every interaction is a learning opportunity, so take it in stride. You’ll be surprised what you’ll pick up along your chats! Sometimes, it’s better to recognize that some things can’t be known or that there are no “right” answers. Be open to feedback and saying, “I don’t know.”

5) Practice humility. Along with knowing that sometimes you don’t know comes with knowing when you may be wrong. Apologize sincerely when necessary. For some, this may be the first time someone’s taken accountability and given a real, heartfelt apology.

I could go on, but five is a good start for now. Feel free to reach out if you’d like to chat more about this. Hope this helps and good luck on your journey!

— OpenEarsOpenHeart 👂❤️