I always have had this tendency to talk with everyone, learn about them and try to make good of what I learn to strike up friendships or at least work relationships.
I always talk and interact with people of all types, of different cultural backgrounds, gender and opinions - this way, I have accrued friends and important relationships of all kind, that benefit me and them both on a personal and professional plan!
This is something that can be really useful and beneficial for all the parties involved.
You can never know what you'll find
Every person has a different personal treasure made up of emotions, experiences and knowledge.
Showing yourself sincerely interested will encourage them to share a bit of their treasure with you.
What they share is directly proportional to the level of the relationship.
The closer you are, the more the other person trusts you, the more they'll be willing to share.
It's a beautiful cycle - the more you nurture the relationship, the more they'll share; the more they share, the easier is to nurture the relationship.
Everyone has hidden depths
Never take anyone at face value.
That easy going and goofy guy?
Maybe he has deeper and more mature thoughts that he may let on, and he'd be glad to share them with you and hear what you think about them.
That silent and mild-mannered girl?
Maybe she has a burning passion for the things she's interested in, and would be delighted to share that world with you.
Be prepared
It's beautiful to never know what you may find, but sometimes you may find more than you thought, or not always positive things.
Be prepared for that.
With the right amount of empathy and understanding, you can be of help and make that person trust you more, improving the relationship in the process.
Keep your critical thinking
There's a difference between being kind and understanding; and being a pushover and a sycophant.
Don't compromise your ideals, morals and ethics. Don't tolerate toxic or inappropriate behavior if you don't want to.
You can discuss, confront and share ideas in a civil and constructive debate though.
Give back
That's really important.
The most beautiful thing about this is that it's a two-way street.
The other people are sharing their personal treasure of experiences and knowledge with you. If they are interested, do the same.
This way you'll both learn new things and improve your relationship as a whole.
And this is really important in my opinion.
Don't be shy to share your thoughts, and thanks for reading!
Jean-Marie
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