Say: “Hi” to a stranger once a day

I tried it for 7 days, and it boosted my confidence and communication…

Here are the 3 most important lessons I learned and my strategy for how to start : 

( even when you are shy and have anxiety…)

Here is why I started doing it—and why you should too:

I was just lying in the room on the carpet. On the other side of the room was Eliza, my friend.

We were on this trip—me, her, and a couple of other girls…

It was the time before lunch. We were alone in the room.

Next to us, lunch was being made, and I wanted to start a conversation.

Even then, I was aware that I wanted to improve my conversational skills, so it was a great opportunity.

I wanted to ask a question, but…

I couldn’t think of a single question to ask her.

I didn’t want to sound desperate with: “How are you?”

I stressed, my anxiety and shyness were at their highest— I was scared that I would say something stupid.

So I laid on the floor for 10–15 minutes,

hating myself because I couldn’t believe I didn’t know how to start a conversation with a person

I’ve known for almost 3 years.

Therefore, I just looked at the ceiling, thinking that I can never let this happen again.

At the very end, before lunch, we exchanged some awkward lines and went for lunch.

She knew and felt it too, but didn't care as much as I did.

The trip went by, but I couldn’t get it out of my head.

So right after I went home, I decided I needed to change.

So without thinking much, I gave myself a challenge:

“every day, I need to say hi or something to a stranger.”

It was hard at first, but the more you do it, the easier it gets.

I can tell that I won’t stop and will just magnify it—from saying hi to starting a conversation…

So let me share with you my 3 lessons and strategy:

1. Confidence

Most of my confidence came from shouting affirmations in the mirror and watching motivational videos.

But that wasn’t confidence—that was ego.

Saying even “hi” scared me at first. I was shy, people could see it. But the more I did it, the more confident I became.

2. I cared less

The fear of what people will think of you is one of the hardest fears to get rid of.

There is always a voice in your head that worries about other people opinion.

When you first say hi, it will be scary and hard, but you’ll realize that nobody cares or cared.

3. My Communication skills

I went from not being able to start a conversation with someone I had known for years

to starting a conversation with someone I just met while swimming practice.

All these small moments add up, and you get better.

Bad/good news: You can’t get better at communication in any other way than through communicating.

4. My strategy

Start with 1 person a day.

You don’t need to find a stranger on the street and become best friends—just say hi.

How to do that:

Don’t think about it. Just take a big breath, and on the exhale, say “hi.”

Then move on—if they reply, good.

If not, who cares? You did your thing.

That’s all.

Don’t overcomplicate a simple thing.

The small thing of saying hi to a stranger seems like nothing.

But it can improve your life in ways you didn’t expect.

Try it for at least 7 days and see what happens.