Things You Can Give Away That Aren't Smiles
A happy face is easy, cheap and effective when it comes to making other people feel a little brighter. But there are other methods. Columnist Leigh Newman weighs in.
Original Content | November 01, 2012
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Couples therapists know a lot! Of course, you can't take what you learned in a session with your spouse and use it to professionally fix a friend's marriage (No one—not even Yoda—knows what goes on in another person's relationship). You can, however, talk about something that you've learned in a general sense. For example, while at a dinner you could say: "You know what? Bill and I are trying this new thing. When we're angry, we try to treat each other like we'd treat the cashier at Dunkin' Donuts, because we tend to be so much more polite with strangers than with each other. It's making a real difference." Your friends probably aren't going to jump up at the table and say: "Wow! We're really way too rude to each other too! Maybe we should try that." But you might see a few silent nods or even hear a telltale "Hmm...really?" |
