A person will be considered "naive" if he trusts excessively or has not tasted the salt of life too much. Naive people are often very trusting of the people around them and they often take advantage of the natural innocence of naive people. As a result, naive people become so easily deceived or hurt. However, don't always think of naivety as a bad thing. Naivety can help you become more optimistic and increase your entrepreneurial spirit. However, if you don't want to be too naive, you should open yourself up to new experiences, rather than trying to avoid them. You also need to take certain precautions in social situations.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Opening Your Eyes to See the World
Step 1. Meet people from different backgrounds
Sometimes people are considered naive because they have a narrow view of the world or have only limited life experiences. Going outside and interacting with people who lead different lives can be a learning experience that helps you understand the world in a bigger light.
- You may be considered naive for growing up in a wealthy family and turning a blind eye to those less fortunate. Friends from different socioeconomic backgrounds can help you appreciate how lucky you are.
- People who grew up in small towns are often considered naive to the urban lifestyle. Visiting a city and connecting with the people who live there can empower you and impart knowledge about a world that is completely different from yours.
- The friendships formed between people from different cultures help you develop empathy for your fellow human beings and respect the beliefs and practices of other cultures.
- Why don't you try joining a cultural club in your neighborhood, or learning a new language. If you know people from different cultures and social statuses, ask them questions (politely, of course) about their customs, views, and experiences. You can learn as much as you are willing to listen.
Step 2. Engage in new experiences
Some people are naive because they were raised in a very protective environment. Maybe your parents didn't let you go to parties or hang out with your peers so you missed out on certain experiences.
- Think of an exciting activity and do it to make up for the missed experience so you can change your perspective on the world and the people in it. Why not try skydiving, hiking/camping in a national park, writing a novel, or learning a new language.
- New experiences stimulate the growth of new brain cells. So you not only develop a behavioral repertoire and have lots of stories to tell, but also improve brain health.
Step 3. Get out of your comfort zone
If you've been doing things the same way all this time, you'll get a new challenge if you suddenly do things a different way. You'll never know how deep your talent is or how much you're capable of if you don't try to get out of the box you've been in.
- Don't settle for living a mediocre life because you're comfortable. Strive to achieve something extraordinary in all your endeavors. Your knowledge of the world will increase as you do so.
- Stepping out of your comfort zone can help refresh your life and find the part of you that, until now, was fast asleep. Seizing more new and challenging opportunities will result in higher productivity, increased creativity and satisfaction.
Step 4. Travel more often
Whether you're going to a city in another province or traveling around the world, visiting new places makes the world seem smaller. You will come out from under the “shell” and become more experienced with traveling.
- Naive individuals are likely to have underdeveloped social skills that make their chances of succeeding out there less and less. However, by visiting different places in the world, you can gain social skills and change the way you perceive and interact with other people, both locally and globally.
- Traveling alone, for example, enhances your natural instincts and challenges you so that it's easier when you come home, make new friends, eat alone at a restaurant, or watch a movie alone. Flying alone also increases confidence and takes the focus off the companion, thereby increasing the opportunity to meet new people and participate in new experiences.
- Just make sure you commit to being open to new experiences. The “culture shock” you experience when you enter a culture that is very different from the one you are familiar with is real, and may have a bigger impact if you are naive enough. Realize that when you travel, you will meet very different experiences and people, and you may have a hard time when those experiences make you uncomfortable. It's all part of learning about living in a different place.
Step 5. Volunteer
Getting to know people from different backgrounds gives you a new perspective on life, as does helping people in need. In addition, your efforts to break out of your inexperienced self will also solve problems and help improve society.
- Believe it or not, doing volunteer work is also good for health. It has a positive impact on physical and mental health, including giving a person a purpose in life and satisfaction.
- Consider what you can offer. Many volunteering jobs require no special skills, but if you are computer savvy or “sociable”, you may be able to find opportunities that match your skills and personality.
Part 2 of 2: Be Socially More Careful
Step 1. Increase alertness
Once you get to do new things out there more often, you'll realize that, no matter where you are, there are always good and bad people. Be aware of what kind of people are around you.
Step 2. Decide if someone can be trusted or not
Pay close attention to the person you are just getting to know before deciding whether or not he or she is loyal. Give him the benefit of the doubt until he proves he can't be trusted.
- If you tend to get along too quickly, take someone to your initial meeting with new acquaintances so you can get a second opinion before starting a new friendship or relationship.
- The human brain takes a few milliseconds to decide whether or not someone can be trusted, so don't be frustrated with yourself if it's so easy to believe the best in someone. Being less naive doesn't mean you have to be cynical.
Step 3. Recognize the signs of dishonesty
Meeting new people can be refreshing and fun, but you need to pay attention to some hints that someone may have bad intentions.
- People who are lying don't always look away. The most experienced liars can look you in the eye when they tell a lie.
- Moving restlessly can also be a sign of dishonesty, especially if it only occurs during certain events or stories, and is not a common practice.
- Other body language that indicates dishonesty include clearing or swallowing multiple times, hands positioned near the base of the neck (such as playing with a necklace), leaning back, lack of “firm movements” such as pointing or tilting the head. One sign is not enough to prove that someone is lying, and many of these behaviors are just signs of nervousness. However, if you see several signs at once, it may be a sign of dishonesty.
- Be wary of new people who show great interest in you. People who try to figure out your ins and outs too soon should be wary, especially if they show an interest in your personal life, work, or financial situation. Such a person may have ulterior motives for being friends with you.
Step 4. Listen more and talk less
Talk about trivial things until you feel more comfortable with the new acquaintance. It's better to listen more to what the other person has to say than to tell too much about yourself. Also, this kind of behavior with new friends may be more attractive because most people like to talk about themselves and often feel excited when someone is willing to listen.
- Keep your secrets tight. Naive people often trust strangers too quickly. Don't let anyone know about your personal life and business, except your family and best friends and trusted partners. Avoid sharing too many stories.
- Don't talk impulsively. If you're the type of person who rarely thinks before speaking, take action to prevent yourself from saying things you may regret. Pause for a moment and think about your words before saying them.
Step 5. Learn to read people
What a person says and what is felt deep inside are usually two different things. Words make up only 7% of communication, while 55% is body language and 30% is tone of voice.
- Is your new friend leaning away or coming closer to you? This can indicate that the person doesn't like you.
- Do your acquaintances slip their hands under their feet, in their pockets or behind their backs? This can indicate that he is not interested in the conversation or interaction taking place.
- Watch for questionable body language. The interlocutor showing an open arms posture while facing you directly is a sign that he is comfortable with what is going on.
- Do your acquaintances grit their teeth or purse their lips? This is a hint that she may be feeling tense in her current situation.
- If your hunch is that the person is suspicious or dishonest, distance yourself from the person immediately. Learn to trust your instincts.
Step 6. Realize that you cannot “fix” other people
Sometimes, people are considered naive if they believe that they can "fix" other people by helping them, loving them, trusting them, etc. This is common in romantic relationships. To be less naive, accept that each person is responsible for his or her own behavior and actions.
For example, a common symptom that can make a relationship unhealthy is a person believing that he can "love" his lover so that the loved one will stop the unhealthy behavior or change into a better person. While you can support your partner, you can't "fix" someone by loving them
Step 7. Believe in yourself
Even if you are a naive person, you still have something unique to offer the world. In fact, naive people may take greater risks and be more productive than more experienced people, but always doubt themselves. Learn to accept yourself as you are.
Step 8. Give yourself time
Your naivety cannot be changed overnight. Give yourself some time to get used to being a person who cares more about the people around you. Take some time before starting a new relationship until you feel better at judging someone's intentions.
Warning
- When in a new environment or meeting new acquaintances, be sure to let someone know where you are by providing an address or a way to contact you in case of an emergency. Meet new people in public places.
- Giving too much information makes the conversation more personal. Be careful not to also share personal information on social media.
