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Stop overthinking what you are about to say.

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You want to tell them all this, you really do. You want to be honest and open and vulnerable hold nothing back. You want to talk about all the things you managed to survive and all the love you’re capable of.

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Your need to have the last word.

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It is true that speaking keeps you more occupied than thinking.

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You can’t hope that something happens on its own because it won’t. Life doesn’t work that way.

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For the love of God, just communicate.

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The human brain has what I would call a safe source filter. That means if someone is primarily critical, you quit listening.

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Somehow, the world is quick to dismiss the quiet ones. Their unassuming nature and agreeable gentleness is easy to overlook. But the quiet ones are the people you should pay attention to the most.

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Wondering whether that other person wants to talk? Try and make eye contact with them. If they hold eye contact with you, this is usually a good sign that they are happy to make some kind of connection.

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Trying to initiate a conversation by asking if I “am alive” or if you “said something wrong” or any other implication that you are somehow entitled to my attention is going to be a major turn off.