Food-centric gatherings are etched in our youthful memories, and now its time to host some yourself.
First of all, they will.
Second of all, there will always be excuses.
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But trust me, your emotional well-being will thank you.
2024 also marks a turning point in how we socialize and form connections.
Fast-forward four years, and some of our biggest challenges are related to friendship and in-person interactions.
So how do we remedy this paradox ofsocial anxietyand desire?
Enter, the dinner party.
What Defines a Dinner Party?
When you hear the term dinner party what comes to mind?
Is it a ten-foot-long table with immaculate matching place options?
A cozy gathering of four or five friends eating some lovingly prepared pasta sauce with salad on the side?
Or maybe its a laid-back potluck with half the crowd eating cross-legged on the floor.
The truth is, all of these are correct definitions because you get to organize it however you yo.
Or that you dont own enough nice silverware or matching plates.
No one cares about these things.
This is inevitable for any party but myrejection sensitivity dysphoriastill reared its ugly head.
But that shouldn’t stop us from doing it!
Every time we push ourselves a little bit it helps us grow in so many ways.
When we have people over for dinner, we signal our openness and enthusiasm for friendship.
And its memorability goes far beyond a physical gift or going out to a restaurant with the girls.
We are full and relaxed and suddenly more willing to open ourselves up to one another.
Who doesnt love a party?
The reality is, its more people than youd expect.
One study from 2022 noted the benefit of brief situational interventions for cultivating purposeful and lasting change.
In other words, its own kind of exposure therapy.
Let me break down why.
In other words, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves (give yourself a break!)
but people are much more forgiving than we give them credit for.
First impressionsmatter, and hosting a dinner party can give you a real leg up.
Another fun aspect of hosting a dinner party is the chance to play matchmaker with your friends.
Remember that they all have the safety and anchor of knowing you.
Also, remember that you aren’t responsible for managing how much fun everyone is having.
As a recovering chronicpeople pleaserthis was an eye-opening piece of advice.
Having people over is a chance to show offour spaceand boost our self-esteem.
You’re feeling an immense sense of accomplishment because you just pulled off this amazing event!
Things didn’t goperfectlybut better than you’d expected.
What were you even so worried about in the first place?
