Everyone is used to being around other people. We see people every day at school, at work, at the shop and on the streets, and we have friends and family who we spend time with.
Yet, despite this, most people struggle to understand the people around them. Most people want to form bonds and have deep, emotional relationships, but sadly, they don’t really know how to do that. They are interested in how other people feel and what they think, but they just can’t think of a way to get the other person to open up to them.
Can you relate to this? If so, don’t worry. It is easy to communicate with people and understand them if you ask the right questions. Here are 8 interesting questions that will help you truly understand people around you.
1. “What do you have in common with your childhood self?”
This question will help you to understand more about the other person as both an adult and a child. Their answer will tell you a lot about how they view themselves, and it will also help you to find out more about their personality. For instance, if they say “humor,” you will know that they enjoy having fun and that they view themselves as a joker.
2. “If you had your own TV show, what would it be about?”
The answer to this question will reveal more about their interests, including TV shows that they like. It will also help you to understand how the other person views their own life. For instance, if they imagine that the show is about the apocalypse, they may feel lonely, and if it is set in an office, they may be extremely career-orientated.
3. “If you had an extra hour every day, how would you spend it?”
This will let you understand more about the other person’s hobbies and passions. If they tell you that they would study, you will understand that they are currently focused on exams, and if they say that they would paint, you will understand more about one of their hobbies.
4. “If you could master one skill you don’t have right now, what would it be?”
This question will help you to understand more about the traits that the other person admires. If they choose chess, it is likely that that they aspire to be more intelligent, and if they wish that they could play the guitar, it is likely that they have a strong appreciation for music.
5. “What words would you pass to your childhood self?”
This question will give you an insight into how they view the quality of their life. If they say “enjoy the ride,” it is likely that they are very happy with their life, but if they say “avoid dating until you’re 20,” they may feel regret about past relationships.
6. “Would you rather lose all of your old memories or never be able to make new ones?”
This question will help you to understand more about how happy the other person is. It will also give you an insight into the way that they think.
7. “If you could trade lives with one of your friends, who would it be?”
Different people value different things; some people dream of money, while others dream of love and a family. The answer to this question will help you to understand more about what the other person classes as successful.
8. “What stands between you and happiness?”
This question often has a surprising answer. They may tell you that they are already happy, or maybe they will mention something completely unexpected. This will help you to understand more about how the other person views happiness.
Simply choose a few questions that you’d like to ask someone, and make a note of the questions on a piece of paper. Next time you see the other person, sit down with them and ask them some of your questions. Remember that it is easy to understand people and form bonds – you just need to ask the right questions!