With Mental Sunshine I try to bring you a simple tip each week to help improve your mood – to improve the Mental Sunshine in your life.
This week’s tip is so simple, you might think it’s quite ridiculous.
This week’s tip is to have a conversation.
Yes, I know – you’ve probably had four of those already today.
But here’s the thing. I don’t mean a conversation about what’s for dinner, or about whose turn it is to put the bins out.
Or even the perfunctory How are you – yes good thanks, you that you probably have several times each day.
And you definitely can’t count any conversations you’ve had about work.
When was the last time you had a conversation that didn’t fit into one of these categories?
The kind where you’re just chatting, exchanging ideas and experiences.
Human beings need to feel connected to the world around us.
One of the main ways we do this is by having conversations.
It doesn’t need to be a big, hour-long deep-and-meaningful conversation with your best friend or partner.
You could chat to the barista in your local coffee shop about their weekend plans.
Make small talk with another parent at school, or non-work-related chat at the water cooler.
It doesn’t need to be a world-changing conversation, but it does need to be long enough to allow you to feel that connection with the world around you.
You might find you have something in common with someone – or you might appreciate the differences between us all.
What you will find is that a few minutes of genuine connection and conversation can improve both your moods.
Go on – I dare you to sit at one of those “happy to chat” tables in a cafe, or on one of the benches in the park.
Just have a chat and see what happens!
