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My Favorite Question to Ask
An Introvert’s Fail-Safe Strategy for Parties
As an introvert, it is difficult for me to be in spaces where I do not know anyone. I have to be prepared ahead of time. I always pick 1 to 3 questions to ask people when there is a lull in the conversation. It is genuine, I love the hearing the answers to this question since it reveals people’s passions and quirks and I feel like I have a plan for an awkward silence.
In Julia Cameron’s book The Artist’s Way she has an exercise to make a list of 5 imaginary lives. She phrases it like this:
If you had five other lives to lead, what would you do in each of them?
You do not need to have the skills to participate in these lives. Here is my list currently:
- Bookstore owner
- Published writer from one of the big 5
- Tarot card reader
- Chef and caterer
- Silent retreat facilitator
My list periodically changes depending on my mood or what I have just read! I encourage you to share 1–5 of your own imaginary lives. Don’t overthink your response. Usually, your first thought is the right one.
Anther fun followup question is: What small move in your life can you do right now that will get you closer to one of those lives?
