True or False:
- You are the quiet one in the meeting room for fear of speaking up and saying the wrong thing
- You feel like you’re constantly connected through social media, but still feel disconnected from everyone in real life
- You cancel plans at the last minute when you begin to feel your social anxiety kicking in
If you answered ‘true’ to any of the above questions, I have a message for you:
Don’t be discouraged! You CAN find connection with everyone you meet, you just need to learn the relatable skills that naturally attract lasting relationships!
(I hope that all of my introverts out there are getting excited because I am right there with you!)
Quite honestly, it has taken years of conscious awareness and getting out of my comfort zone to move myself away from the safe haven of the hor d’oeuvre stations at networking events, to mingling in the middle of the room. To actually connecting and engaging with those around me!
(Although, let’s be real…sometimes the pigs in a blanket are still too tempting to pass up.)
You see, connection and healthy relationships are the key to success, productivity, and happiness.
Yet despite being constantly plugged in and connected virtually, Americans are more disconnected than ever.
Get this!
- 3 out of 5 Americans report feeling lonely (and this was before the pandemic). The generation reporting the most? Generation Z- those in their early 20s.
- Lonely workers miss 5x more days of work due to stress and illness, contributing to the growing costs and moral crushing impact of unplanned absenteeism.
- Lack of social connection heightens health risks as much as smoking 15 cigarettes per day—and are twice as harmful to physical and mental health as obesity.
Can we just take a pause here for a moment?! Those stats are insane!
The truth of the matter is, we all have the desire to belong, to connect.
But in the age of social media, making personal connections is becoming more challenging than ever.
In fact, today’s guest actually calls it a social crisis that we are facing as a society of not knowing how to talk to each other!
The good news?
Today, Rachel DeAlto is here to help you to learn how to connect with anyone, anywhere!
From seasoned lawyer to relationship expert for shows like Lifetime’s “Married at First Sight” and TLCs “Dave + Kate,” Rachel knows a thing or two about connection.
She believes: Everyone can be likable. Everyone can be confident. And anyone can achieve this authentically.
And friends, she is here to help you do just that!
So! What’s the first way to connect with someone?
Through a conversation! A conversation is a dance – you need a partner!
(Makes sense, right?!)
But, what do you do when you start to “word vomit?” Or when social anxiety kicks in? Or when you feel your confidence waining with every awkward silence?
- Talk less
- Ask a question
- Take a breath (Rachel actually has a 5×5 method she shares with us today in the podcast to reset our nervous system!)
Taking these simple steps will help you to reset! They will help you to stop focusing on the negative thoughts swirling around in your head, and help you to be present in the moment!
Presence is key to eliminate distractions (even internal ones), to get curious, and to begin connecting!
Friends, this is just the tip of the iceberg of my conversation with Rachel today where we also chat about:
- How to feel comfortable showing up as our true selves without feeling like we need to play small in order to be relatable
- External triggers of social anxiety and the grounding that happens when we connect in-person versus online
- Ways to pursue adaptability no matter where you are with authenticity
- Understanding the art of reading the room
- What you need to know to be aspirational and inspirational while still being relatable
We all want to create lasting, authentic, and meaningful connections while still feeling comfortable in our own skin, being confident in who we are, and walking away knowing that we were true to ourselves.
If you are ready for a guide that will help you do just that and take you from socially awkward to awesome, you will not want to miss today’s fresh, humorous, and powerful episode!
It’s a good one!
More From This Episode:
Connect with Rachel on Instagram and be sure to pick up her new book, ‘Relatable: How To Connect With Anyone, Anywhere (Even If It Scares You)’ wherever books are sold.’
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[…] Relatable: How to Connect with Anyone, Anywhere With Rachel DeAlto […]