I have always considered myself an old soul. I love surrounding myself with people who have stories to tell. I find so much inspiration and fascination in life experiences because everyone has a story, and there are billions of people in the world, each with unique tales to share. It’s mind-blowing to me how many stories are left untold!
Of course, if you feel like you don’t have enough life experiences to be an incredibly interesting person, don’t worry! You can consider being interesting a “skill” that you can develop with dedicated practice and intention.
10 ways you can become an incredibly interesting person
1. Embrace A Love For Learning & Stay Curious
Never stop learning so you will always have something to talk about. Deepen and broaden your perspectives by reading books, blogs, listening to podcasts, learning new skills, writing, traveling, and engaging with locals to immerse yourself in different cultures. Even reading fiction can open you up to new worlds and ideas, making you a more empathetic and interesting person. People who read more fiction tend to be better at empathy and understanding.
Pro-Tip: STOP SCROLLING… and actually read (not skim) books and blogs.
Make the time to listen to podcasts and audiobooks at the gym, in the car, or on your bike rides. People make the mistake of wasting their time listening to music thinking they need it to “pump them up for their workout” but you can hardwire your mind to get excited to learn.
2. Be Open-Minded
Being open-minded will make you more receptive to different perspectives. Interesting people are constantly exposed to new and intriguing ideas they haven’t thought of before, creating new neural pathways. They are also open to complex and multifaceted viewpoints.
3. Being Open to Uncomfortable Experiences
Nothing worthwhile ever comes out of your comfort zone. Getting uncomfortable will set you on a path to doing new things while intentionally collecting new experiences, learning new things, and thus, having a plethora of interesting stories to tell.
Interesting people have an abundance of experiences and stories to share. Live a colorful life that you can later compile into a book people would want to read.
4. Nurture Interests & Hobbies
Cultivate interests and hobbies that have nothing to do with your career. Seek out new information, philosophies, and activities beyond your usual scope. Trying new things constantly will give you fresh topics to talk about. When you speak about things you are passionate about, people can hear and feel the enthusiasm in your voice, and that energy is contagious.
5. Develop Emotional Intelligence
Truly interesting people are intentional in wanting to understand others and show compassion. They observe keenly and have excellent listening skills. Everyone has an interesting story, and your job is to “listen with imagination.”
As Dale Carnegie said in, How to Win Friends and Influence People, “you can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.”
To be interesting, be interested. This means listening with intent which requires emotional intelligence.
6. Be Confident and Have Opinions
Boring people usually have no perspectives or opinions because you simply can’t have a conversation with them. It starts with confidence — and practice! Don’t be afraid of looking stupid because you’re your own worst critic. Engage in thoughtful debate and welcome thought challenges. Say what’s on your mind, even if others disagree.
7. Meditate Often
Meditation helps you be present and relax your mind, leading to the emergence of new ideas and connections between thoughts. Your brain needs time to “connect the dots,” which is best achieved in a state of flow rather than constant stress and worry.
8. Ask Good Questions
The quality of your life depends on the quality of the questions you ask.
When someone shares their fascinating life story with you, don’t hesitate to ask more in-depth questions about their experiences. People love sharing their stories, and showing interest in their lives will bring a sense of fulfillment.
9. Spend Time with Interesting People
Interact with individuals who have different perspectives from your own. While you don’t have to agree with them, being open to diverse viewpoints will expand your horizons. Avoid spending too much time with shallow and closed-minded people, as it can influence your own mindset negatively.
10. Hold Yourself to High Standards
Strive for excellence rather than settling for mediocrity. Commit to going above and beyond, practice discipline, and avoid laziness. Maintaining high standards will lead to personal growth, attract like-minded people, and offer better opportunities for interesting experiences and stories.
Remember, “interesting” is subjective. What one person finds fascinating may not be so to someone else. However, truly interesting people are always open and curious about learning new things, making connections, and embracing a diverse range of experiences. By doing so, you can find your own group of like-minded individuals and continue to grow as an incredibly interesting person.
TL;DR: How To Be An Interesting Person
- Embrace A Love For Learning & Stay Curious
- Be Open-Minded
- Being Open to Uncomfortable Experiences
- Nurture Interests & Hobbies
- Develop Emotional Intelligence
- Be Confident and Have Opinions
- Meditate Often
- Ask Good Questions
- Spend Time with Interesting People
- Hold Yourself to High Standards
