Spiritual Wellness
"Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up," reads an inspiring verse from Romans 15:2.
Knowing how to make a good first impression is important for many areas of your life, from meeting potential new friends to meeting potential new employers. Thankfully, whether or not you make a good first impression on someone can be well within your control. If you keep these basic pointers in mind, then you will have no trouble feeling good about the interactions you have with others:
1). Smile
Smiling is the easiest thing you can do to make a good first impression on someone, and it is perhaps also the most important. A simple smile can help others to perceive you as kind, approachable, and warm, making them more likely to want to talk to you in the first place, and to keep talking to you once they start.
2). Be aware of your body language
Body language is an extremely important component of communication. In fact, it is likely even more important than any words that will be spoken between you and the person you are trying to make a good impression on. It doesn't take much to leave a good impression either. Just make sure to orient yourself towards the person, make eye-contact once in a while to show that you are listening, and nod your head a little to show that you understand.
3). Talk less
You should definitely talk enough to keep a pleasant conversation going, but be aware of dominating the conversation entirely. If you catch yourself talking too much about yourself, then try to let the other person contribute to the interaction. If they have something to say and you never let them get it out, then they will not walk away feeling very good about the conversation.
4). Ask questions
So what if you try not to talk too much about yourself, but the other person doesn't seem to have much say? Easy! Just ask them questions. Ask about their job and their likes and interests, ask them follow-up questions to something they told you, or ask them how they feel about something you said.
5). Be interested
If you are going to be asking someone questions, then you better be interested in the answers! It will come off badly if you fail to listen to what the other person is saying after specifically asking them about it. You are much more likely to leave a good impression on others if they feel that you showed some genuine interest in them as a person.
Christians are called to genuinely care for and show an interest in others. "Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up," reads an inspiring verse from Romans 15:2. Follow this sound Biblical advice and you will find that the five tips above come naturally to you as you interact with other people. Let your focus be on building others up and making them feel better about themselves, and you will not be able to help but smile, display positive body language, and show genuine interest in who they are.
Spiritual Prayer
You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, righteousness, and uprightness of heart toward You. And You have shown him great kindness in giving him a son to sit on his throne this day. Now, O Lord, my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David and I am still a little child and do not know how to go out or to come in. And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, so numerous that they can not be numbered or counted. Give Your servant therefore an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and bad, for who is able to judge among so great a people?