The Life Changing Effect of Small Talk With Strangers

Taking time to have small chats about nothing in particular with people we don’t know and are unlikely ever to meet again can - from some perspectives - seem like the height of absurdity. But this is to miss the point - and the significant opportunities - presented by these minor social exchanges. For books and more from The School of Life, visit our online shop: Our website has classes, articles and products to help you lead a more fulfilled life: ​​For Psychotherapy and other therapeutic services: If you want to keep working on your mental well-being and self-understanding, download our hugely helpful new app now: For information on The School of Life’s learning and wellbeing solutions for businesses, including workshops and talks, visit Email business@ or join our monthly business newsletter: Join this channel to get access to exclusive members perks: Change Your Life with Pointless Conversations FURTHER READING You can read more on this and other subjects on our blog, here: “Taking time to have small chats about nothing in particular with people we don’t know and are unlikely ever to meet again can — from some perspectives — seem like the height of absurdity. Maybe we’re in a coffee shop and someone is preparing us a drink. Perhaps we’ve crossed a neighbour in the hallway while getting our post. Or we’re on a train, waiting for the doors to open. Why would we bother to hold up our day for a few moments, given how many things we already need to do and how many good friends we have that we haven’t seen in far too long? We may also have a more high minded defence for our silence: we aspire to be profound people and there is no way that we can get anywhere meaningful with a near or complete stranger in a compressed amount of time. We shun the smaller chats because — in the back of our minds — we tell ourselves that we are already sufficiently deeply committed to the long and consequential ones…” MORE SCHOOL OF LIFE Watch more films on SELF in our playlist: SOCIAL MEDIA Feel free to follow us at the links below: Facebook: Twitter: Instagram: LinkedIn: CREDITS Produced in collaboration with: Natalia Beigaj Title animation produced in collaboration with Graeme Probert