remind yourself that you have a natural bias to assume that you prefer keeping to yourself. You can probably recall a situation where you were glad you reached out and engaged with someone, even if you were reluctant at first. A lot of people hate small talk simply because shifting gears into socializing mode can feel awkward or uncomfortable. But they forget that, once warmed up, the benefits far outweigh the initial costs. It’s a bit like exercise in the morning. Sure, it takes your muscles time to warm up, but you soon start to enjoy yourself, and gain the benefits of physical activity.
