Meeting new people can be uncomfortable and nerve wrecking. It can make you feel awkward and unsure.

It is hard to think of topics to talk about. It is hard to find a common ground. It is hard to feel connected.

We all experience these nervous feelings when meeting someone for the first time.

Personally, I would rather stay in the inner circle I’ve known my whole life and just camp out there forever. But, that’s not reality.

We must reach out to new people. We are put in many situations where it is necessary to introduce ourselves and start up conversations with complete strangers.

So, the sooner we start practicing these skills the better off for it we will be in the future.

First, we need to recognize the amazing world that will be opened for us through meeting new people. If we learn to appreciate its benefits, we will be more likely to put ourselves out there and meet new people.

Every person you come in contact with has a unique story. They have special skills and knowledge that no one else has. They have beliefs that are exclusive to them.

We can learn so much from each other and grow considerably when we take the time to meet new people from all walks of life. You’ll never know what you were missing from your life if you never take the time to meet new people who can give you new outlooks on life.

Finding topics of conversation when meeting someone new can be extremely difficult. You never know what they are interested in and it can take some time to find commonalities.

Come up with a list of interesting questions that are great conversation starters. Make sure these questions relate to your interests. Leave these questions open to interpretation and just see where the conversation goes.

Use these whenever you run out of basic questions like “Where are you from? What’s your favorite color? Do you have a pet?” etc. Having these questions prepared ahead of time will help you be prepared to carry on a conversation and take it in a more exciting direction.

However, be aware that if the conversation truly isn’t going anywhere and you all are not connecting, then leave it alone. You will not be able to relate and hit it off with everyone you meet. But, the important thing is that you try first just to see where it goes.

Practicing this skill now will be incredibly useful for your job in the future. Networking is a huge part of acquiring and maintaining a job.

If you work on introducing yourself to people now in a casual setting, it will be remarkably easier to be a conversation starter in the future when it matters.

Recently, I was put in situations where I had to meet many new people at once. At first, I was a little timid to go all in, but then I realized I just needed to introduce myself and then just see where it went from there. I ended up growing close to people I would have otherwise never known, and I am extremely grateful for it.

So, put yourself out there and talk to a stranger. Maybe you’ll make a new friend. Maybe you’ll learn something valuable. Or, maybe you’ll never talk to that person again.

Either way, introduce yourself and see what happens. You’ll be grateful that you did later.