Don’t sweat the small stuff. Don’t stress out if a class you wanted to take on the weekend is suddenly cancelled, for example. Instead, re-frame your thoughts to look ahead. Rather than get bummed out and dwell, find out when there’s another class or plan something else to do.
Look for the positives in your life and become practiced in seeing the glass “half full. " Feeling down because you never have plans on a Friday night? Instead of getting depressed, think of what you could do with that time: join a games night cafe, start a knitting club, etc. Sometimes disadvantages can turn into opportunities!
Oftentimes people aren’t interesting because they are reserved. Many people feel that they need to hold back in order to protect themselves. Of course, to some extent, this is true, but you can also take this too far. By holding back too much, you’re limiting your potential and in the process becoming less interesting. The more reserved you get, the more static your life.
The more out of the ordinary experiences you have, the more of an interesting person you will become. People often “live through” the experiences of others. One person may not be ready to go skydiving but will feel in awe that you have and want to know all about it! Sign up for class about something you have never done before, like pottery or knitting, or participate in a sport you haven’t played before, like rugby. Try things you might not be great at, such as public speaking or improv. Learn to master these skills. Remember that the only way we can bring change and growth in our lives is by challenging the habits and behaviors we currently have. So push yourself to your limits and challenge yourself to improve and grow.
Read widely. Read books on different topics by a range of different types of writers. Listen to podcasts. Keep up-to-date on what’s going on in the world. Form your own opinions about the complicated world in which you live. Learn about your neighborhood. Seek out new places or revisit old haunts in your town. Make one weekend night a week a “going out” night where you explore the ‘hood. Seek out interesting people. The people you spend time with affect your behavior. The Longevity Project, which studied over 1000 people from youth to death found that the groups you associate with often determine the type of person you become. So, if you want to be interesting, you need to surround yourself with dynamic people![3] X Research source
Be the leader of a crowd, not a follower. That shows you have confidence are someone worth knowing.
Don’t underestimate how interesting certain quirky or intellectual aspects of you can be. You like reading history books? Embrace it, rather than see it as a nerdy pastime of interest to no one. You can impress people with your knowledge of some pretty esoteric topics. Wear something crazy and fun. People might laugh but it will make you interesting. Don’t be afraid to stand out. Never feel as though you should have to change or hide who you are. Your quirks are what make you YOU. Becoming a more interesting person does not mean become someone else, but instead highlighting what it is about you specifically that is interesting. [6] X Research source
You can show up basically as an observer of other interesting people and let that be a learning experience for you, or you can show up and be a little bit more of the life of the party. But the main thing is to show up. Consider this part of the exploration process. [8] X Research source If you’re at a party, make a circuit of the room, or try something on the table you’ve never had before. Stepping out of your comfort zone like this instantly gives you something to talk about with another guest.
Most captivating people are often good listeners. Impressing people can be great but it can also devolve into status jockeying, one-upmanship, and envy. People love to talk about themselves and all the while there is a dearth of good listeners. Let the other person talk. [10] X Research source
Keep in mind that people are generally more interested in stories about other people, rather than things. Human beings are fascinated by their own behavior. Capitalize on this. [12] X Research source
Everyone has certain things about them that people tend to ask about over and over. Common topics include work, school, family, recent trips, etc. It helps to have mini-speeches and stories prepared for these topics. That way, if someone asks, you’ll have something ready to go. When you’re speaking, words only account for 7 percent of what is conveyed. Voice tone and body language are far more important. Inject humor and personality into what you’re saying. Laugh. Smile. Be passionate. Gesture. [14] X Research source Think about the most interesting person you know; chances are that this person had a manner of being that drew you to them - were they relaxed or confident or outgoing or enigmatic? Try to replicate this.
