DEVELOPING YOUR SOCIAL SKILLS

Different individuals require different social skills.  The  response of each individual to a certain situation varies greatly. Review your social skills and weaknesses, and improve on those deficiencies that you think are causing your depression.

Instinctively, having social skills ought to help with sadness, low self-esteem, and indifference to life. Improved communication skills and counseling should also help with relationship problems.

Social skill training improves your ability in meeting people, talking, sharing life experiences and stories, selecting a friend or partner, and having a good time.

Social skills don't come naturally to everybody; many of us have to learn and practice good communication skills.  Some individuals are meticulous in choosing the people they interact with.  It has been discovered that having good support and close contact with  family and friends is beneficial in honing your social skills.

Sometimes, a person’s naturally-possessed attitude may be contrary to everyone else’s desires or moral standards.  The inability to cope with the behavior of others can lead to depression.

Read Michelle’s Story:

Does this scene look somewhat familiar?  Have you ever been in a similar situation? 

If you’re Michelle, your depression can be solved by doing any of the following:

• Find co-workers who have similar interests.  Birds of the same feather flock together.  People are genuinely interested on other people who have the same likes and dislikes as them.

• Ask one of the co-workers (that you’re hiding from) if you can join with them in their sports or movie escapade.  Hey, if you can’t beat them, join them.  Who knows, you might not know all along that you are destined to be a great athlete.  Just give it a try. 

• Find a common link.  There must be something that both of you are in agreement with.  If  your co-worker does charity work and you are also thinking of becoming a volunteer, then by all means go ahead.  It will establish a closer bond between the two of you amidst being incompatible in many other ways.

Having good social skills is an important factor in eliminating depression.  In this case, being assertive is crucial. Assertiveness is definitely different from fighting or quarreling. It involves expressing inner feelings emotions, like personal needs and positive feelings. 
 
Knowledge and application of good communication skills, fair fighting, quick conflict resolutions, and self-expression could result to much better relationships. Develop your bond and closeness by constant sharing of life experiences, opinions, feelings, and ambitions.

This could positively affect your viewpoint in life!