
Hey! My name is Hannah! I have begun a series where I provide you with responses I give in some of the fb groups I am in. As they are private groups, I don’t share what the original post says verbatim, but the general topic of discussion, I do share that for context. I’m excited to share this response with you. The topic of discussion is “Small Talk”. I hope this is an encouragement to you who may be going through this type of confusion and need clarity, as well as insight to those who are trying to support their friend. I would like to encourage you to consider joining fb groups to support you and find a sisterhood of likeminded women! I have a list of resources at the bottom of this page! Tap here to skip to it!!
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Small Talk
The original post was short and simply said they don’t like small talk and don’t like dealing with people and they don’t trust them. I wanted to focus on small talk and I have breakdown below as well as to the benefit of small talk.
My Response
Small talk is definitely a learned skill and can be frustrating when we’ve lived with toxic know it all’s who don’t give you the opportunity to hone that skill. Living in survival mode makes small talk feel less important to the process of developing relationships. We all had to crawl before we ran, it’s a step in the process and looking up some steps on how to step out of survival and into you’re thriving life, and empower yourself to be curious. Small talk will become a bigger deal and vital to your growth. ♥️ fyi I felt the same for a long time. It wasn’t until I threw away my whole life full of degrading people who had limiting and dismissive world views that freed me to explore my true power!!
Much love as you find yours!
Additional Responses
If they respond, I will place my responses to them here.
Small Talk
Let’s talk about the power of small talk in building strong relationships!
Small talk often gets a bad rap, but it plays a crucial role in developing deeper connections with others. Those initial casual conversations can be the gateway to meaningful friendships and connections that last a lifetime. Here’s why small talk matters:
Breaking the ice: Small talk acts as a friendly introduction, helping to break down barriers and create a comfortable atmosphere. It paves the way for more significant conversations by establishing a foundation of familiarity and trust.
Building rapport: Engaging in small talk allows us to discover shared interests, hobbies, and experiences. Finding common ground creates a sense of camaraderie, making it easier to connect on a deeper level later on.
Showing genuine interest: By asking questions and actively listening during small talk, we demonstrate our curiosity and concern for others. This genuine interest fosters empathy and strengthens the bond between individuals.
Creating a positive atmosphere: Small talk can brighten someone’s day and create a positive environment. It’s a chance to exchange pleasantries, share anecdotes, and bring a smile to someone’s face. These positive interactions contribute to a foundation of goodwill in relationships.
Remember, while small talk may seem trivial at first, it serves as the stepping stone towards meaningful connections. So, don’t underestimate the power of those initial conversations. Embrace the opportunity to engage in small talk, and who knows, it might lead to wonderful relationships that enrich your life!
Little Deeper
Small talk can serve as a valuable tool in preventing manipulation, particularly in situations where narcissists tend to skip the initial stages and rush into intimate conversations. Here’s how small talk helps protect against manipulation.
Establishing boundaries: Small talk allows you to set boundaries and control the flow of personal information. By keeping conversations light and casual, you can gradually reveal details about yourself at a pace that feels comfortable and safe. This helps prevent oversharing and gives you time to assess the other person’s intentions.
Testing for reciprocity: Engaging in small talk helps you gauge the level of reciprocity in a relationship. Healthy interactions involve both parties sharing and showing genuine interest in each other’s lives. If someone is consistently skipping small talk and focusing solely on themselves, it may indicate a lack of reciprocity and potentially manipulative behavior.
Evaluating consistency: Small talk provides an opportunity to observe consistency in a person’s words and actions. Pay attention to whether their behavior aligns with what they say during casual conversations. Inconsistent or contradictory behavior can be a red flag for manipulation or deceit.
Building trust incrementally: Trust takes time to develop, and small talk allows for gradual trust-building. By starting with non-intimate topics, you can observe how the other person handles conversations, respects boundaries, and shows genuine interest. This gradual process helps identify potential manipulative tactics and safeguards against being love-bombed or rushed into an intense relationship.
Remember, while small talk may seem insignificant, it serves as an important filtering mechanism. It helps you assess the intentions and behaviors of others, allowing you to build healthier, more authentic connections while protecting yourself against manipulation.

Thank you for reading! I do hope this was insightful and encouraging! I hope you have a wonderful day and enjoy some small talk! ♥️

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Resources
More Resources
- Natalie Anne Hoffman with the Flying Free podcast — episode 160 “An Emotional Recovery Tool That Changes Everything” — this episode is a game changer. I listen to it often and it has changed how I think and process my thoughts. Defines where our actions begin. How no one can make us feel anything. It’s all based on the meaning we place on things. It’s powerful to take your power back that you didn’t even know was yours to begin with. It was yours all along!
- Leslie Vernick – Enriching Relationships That Matter Most — podcast episode “Is It Abuse?”
- PlusONE Parents — podcast episode “Does God Hate Divorce”
- Jen Wilkin — podcast episode “DISTRESS & DELIVERANCE: UNDERSTANDING THE HEART OF GOD IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING WITH JEN WILKIN”
- Bare Marriage with Sheila Wray Gregoire
- Patrick Weaver Ministries
- Esther Company
- Confusion to Clarity
- The Life-Saving Divorce—Gretchen Baskerville
- Intentional Today
- Sarah McDugal – Wilderness to WILD
- Rebecca Davis—Untwisting Scriptures
- Betrayal Trauma Recovery
- Sarah K Ramsey Toxic Person Proof Podcast
- Marg Mowczko
- Psalm 82 Initiative
- Thriving Forward
- Held & Healed: Christian Women Rebuilding After Abuse by Heather Elizabeth
- Another One Free
- Amy Gannett — podcast episode “ANSWERING YOUR KIDS’ QUESTIONS ABOUT GOD WHEN YOU’VE GOT SOME OF YOUR OWN WITH AMY GANNETT”
- Lisa Appelo — podcast episode “LIFE CAN BE GOOD AGAIN: LOSS & LACK TRANSFORMED BY THE GOODNESS OF GOD WITH LISA APPELO”
- Bailey T. Hurley — podcast episode “FRIENDS LIKE FAMILY: FINDING YOUR PEOPLE & CULTIVATING COMMUNITY”
- Nate Postlethwait
- My Response Series | Why Do The Wicked ProsperThey will reap grievously what they’ve sown, and some will not repent in this life. That is a tragedy in and of itself.
- My Response Series | Self-Love vs SelfishnessSelf-love involves healthy boundaries and self-respect, whereas selfishness often involves disregarding others’ feelings or needs.
- My Response Series | Entitled Husband & “Crazy” Wife Dynamic“No one is perfect” – Husbands attempt to gaslight his horrible behavior as his Wife simpling being unrealistic in her expectations of him.
- My Response Series | “My Ex Is Crazy”How someone talks about someone is telling. Someone who is unwilling to meet their partner’s emotional needs or engage in constructive communication is unsafe.



