Stop trying to be interesting and be curious instead

If socializing exhausts you, check what is actually costing your energy. Usually it is not the people in the room; it is the exhausting performance of trying to be interesting. You spend the whole evening calculating how to present yourself, hiding what won't land, and waiting for others to go first.

I arrived late to a major conference once, and everyone was already chatting in tight circles. I felt completely alone in a crowded room. A friend texted me simple advice: look around for someone who feels the exact same way. Several people did; I sat down with them and asked plain questions, and I went home with more energy than I arrived with.

At your next social event, try this one rule: ask questions instead of presenting an image. Find out one real, authentic thing about one person. Nothing about your personality needs to land, and you don't have to carry a mask. Check out Why I Love in the link below.