We are constantly developing and refining our social skills—a process that continues throughout our lives. When we find ourselves in a different culture, we need to learn how to interpret its customs and adapt to them in order to connect with the local people and with other foreigners. Even within our own culture, we continuously learn and adjust our behavior based on new social interactions, observations, and conversations. This adaptation happens both consciously and unconsciously.

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I believe we are living in the most empowering time in human history—especially when it comes to personal growth and, as caregivers, shaping the development of our children. We have unprecedented access to knowledge, therapy, live classes, and local workshops on countless subjects. Social anxiety or insecurity are not insurmountable — today, we have tools and resources to help us grow. The key is recognizing that certain skills or traits don’t always develop naturally; they often require intentional focus and effort. Once you acknowledge this, you begin to seek out information, apply what you learn, become curious for more, and eventually start to see the underlying patterns of growth and transformation.

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We talk about social skills in many different ways. Some people experience fear and avoid social situations altogether, while others show up but feel frozen—unsure of what to say or do. Some identify as shy or introverted. Others prefer to stay home, playing games or watching TV, and some say they don’t need new people in their lives, deliberately avoiding situations where they'd have to interact with strangers. There are even those who participate in group activities, like sports, with little to no communication throughout.

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Often, this behavior reflects a mix of anxiety and underdeveloped social skills. But when we teach people these skills and they have the chance to practice them, their anxiety often decreases or even disappears. With time, they gain both confidence and practical tools for navigating social life.

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What we place under the name of social skills?

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Understanding social contexts, being able to minimally interpret others’ intentions, recognizing basic facial expressions and body language, resolving conflicts by accepting different perspectives—these are all essential social skills. It also means not avoiding conflict out of fear, nor creating unnecessary tension. It involves actively working to maintain friendships, cultivating flexible thinking, and following the unspoken rules of conversation, such as turn-taking and mutual exchange.​​​​​​

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