The Joy of Genuine Interaction: Moving Beyond Small Talk.

Have you ever walked away from a conversation feeling completely unseen? Like you just spent ten minutes talking, but somehow, nothing real was said?

I have. And honestly, I’ve been on the other side too—filling space with polite questions, nodding along, never really going deeper. It’s easy, isn’t it? Small talk is safe. It helps us navigate social interactions without the risk of being vulnerable.

But deep down, don’t we all crave something more? The answer is a resounding yes!

All of us were made for connection—real, soul-level connection. The kind of conversations that leave you feeling known, encouraged, and challenged in the best way. The ones where you forget to check the time because you’re so engaged. The ones that remind you that you’re not alone in what you’re feeling, thinking, or struggling with.

Why Do We Stay on the Surface?

So if we long for real connection, why do we so often settle for surface-level conversation?

Maybe it’s because we’re in a rush. Maybe we assume the other person isn’t interested. Maybe we fear rejection—what if we open up and the other person doesn’t respond the way we hope?

Or maybe we’re just out of practice.

For so long, we’ve been conditioned to keep things light—"How are you?" "Busy, but good!" "How about this weather?"—and move on. We’ve been trained to avoid anything that might feel too personal, too deep, too… real.

But what if we chose to push past that? What if we were able to wade into real, authentic conversations?

I had a conversation recently that reminded me how powerful genuine interaction can be. It started like any other—"How’s work?"—but somewhere along the way, we veered off the script. My friend shared something he’d been struggling with, and instead of glossing over it, I asked him more. I didn’t try to fix it. I just listened. And in that space of honesty, something shifted.

It wasn’t just a conversation—it was connection.

And the beautiful thing? It didn’t take much. Just a willingness to be present, to ask one more question, to let silence linger a little longer instead of rushing to fill it.

What would happen if you made a choice to go beyond small talk?

What if, instead of the automatic "How are you?" you asked, "What’s something on your heart this week?"

What if, instead of skimming the surface, you dig a little deeper—"What’s been challenging you lately?" or "What’s something you’re excited about?"

And what if you didn’t just ask, but actually listened—fully, intentionally, without distraction?

I think you’d find that people are longing to be seen. And sometimes, all it takes is one person being brave enough to go first.

So, let’s start today. Here’s my challenge to you (and to myself): The next time you have a chance for conversation, resist the urge to stay on autopilot. Be present. Be curious. Be willing to go a little deeper.

Because the joy of genuine interaction is waiting—not in the safe, scripted exchanges, but in the real, unfiltered, heart-level moments.

And I promise—it’s worth it.

I’d love to hear from you. What’s a question that has led to a meaningful conversation in your life? Let’s talk.