Sharing is caring as the saying goes. Nifty ways to get small talk going can be found on more and more tables every day, and this sure helps people to add some depth to their relationships.
A tea brand in the Netherlands, I noticed, started printing diverse questions on the little paper handles of their packaged tea: great conversation starters about topics you otherwise may not ever discuss.
Bag time
One simple and effective way we were introduced to, consists of a bag containing a few physical objects, which each represented a category in life. The items and their representation:
- a flower: beauty
- a rock: difficulties
- a shell: the divine (hearing God)
- a cuddly bear: happiness
- plastic fruit: obtained results
- a Lego building block: learned skills or insights
It’s a simple way to get conversions going in a group setting. As the bag gets sent from the one person to the next, you would pick an item which would direct your thoughts, and help bring up topics that you otherwise would more likely skip. Sharing about that category in your life is a conversation starter that will get pressure released, worries shared, new ideas generated, etc.
The item then goes back into the bag, and the bag goes to the next person.
Time
Important ingredients in the process of sharing are compassion, attention, interest.. all in an individual mix, depending on family or group culture and your personal preferences.
But perhaps the most necessary component to have relationships grow is time. Setting a few minutes aside for sharing at the family dinner table will grow your relationships. Simple conversation starters will help you get past the typical answer on the question “how was your day?”.
Feel free to use the icons below if that helps sharing.
