World Class Hugs

By Rachel Puryear

You’ve probably worried before about what others think of you, and then had someone reassure you – in a cold comfort sort of a way – that actually, people probably aren’t thinking about you very much at all. After all, they reiterate, it’s not about you! Or so they say.

Well, the world may not revolve entirely around you. But that doesn’t mean that others aren’t thinking about you – and more so than you realize. And even if not everyone likes you, you are probably much better liked than you think.

According to a recent study published in the October issue of Journal of Experimental Psychology, people tend to underestimate the frequency with which others think of us – this is known as the thought gap. After we have a visit or a conversation with someone, we tend to remember it and keep thinking of it – and so does the other person, just like you. If you often keep replaying a social interaction in your mind after the fact, you’re not the only one – you’re perfectly normal.

You don’t hear them thinking about you. You don’t see it. But that doesn’t mean that it is not absolutely happening, nonetheless.

Does that make you worry, knowing that others are thinking about you more than you believed? Do you fear what they might be thinking?

Relax – it’s probably better and more favorable to you than you thought.

Not only do people tend to underestimate how much others think about them, but they also tend to underestimate how much others like them. Others like us much more than we think.

Does this mean that everyone likes you, or will? No. No matter how wonderful we are and no matter how much we have to offer, none of us will ever please everybody. There will always be some who do not, and will not, ever like us. And that’s ok – sometimes it’s much more of a reflection on them than it is on you. But there will always be plenty of people who will like us, and like us more so than you believe.

Knowing that people think about you more than you realize can help make someone feel less lonely, less isolated, less invisible, and less alienated. Knowing that people like you more than you think can increase one’s social confidence, thereby helping to make social interactions go smoother and be less anxiety-provoking.

This is why it is important to know, and always remember, these empowering truths. Remember these during your future social interactions.

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Thank you, dear readers, for reading, following, and sharing. Here’s to your having more social confidence by knowing that people think about you more than you realize, and also like you more than you think. If you enjoyed this content and want to see more of it, please hit “like” and subscribe, if you do not do so already. xoxo