For example, if your friend is a big fan of puns, you could tell them a joke with a pun as the punchline, like “Did you hear about the restaurant on the moon? Great food, no atmosphere. ” [2] X Research source If your friend likes knock-knock jokes, you could tell them this one: “Knock, knock. Who’s there? Amish! Amish who? You’re not a shoe!”[3] X Research source
For example: “I go to Las Vegas to see the shows, eat at the buffets, and visit my money. ” Here, 2 expected things set the pattern and then are followed by something unexpected. Another example would be “A man goes into a psychiatrist, and says, ‘Doctor, my brother thinks he’s a chicken. ’ The doctor says, ‘Why don’t you take him to the hospital?’ The man says, ‘I would, but we need the eggs. ’”
Practice telling your joke over and over to get a sense of your command of the best rhythm and timing. You can practice in a mirror, record yourself with your phone, or tell your joke to another person.
Some bad moods may be more receptive to jokes than others. If someone is angry or has just experienced a major loss, they probably won’t want to hear a joke. If they’re just having a bad day or are momentarily upset about something, a joke might be able to cheer them up.
Try to use examples that are recent. It may seem odd if you compliment someone for something they did several months earlier. For example, you could say “I thought it was really nice of you to plan our friend’s birthday party the other day. ”
For example, you could say “I think you’re the smartest person on our trivia team. You always know the answers to the tough science and math questions. ”
If you compliment someone for a specific act of kindness, for example, you could tell them that you think they are a kind person in general with a unique generosity of spirit. For instance, you could say “It was really nice of you to help that person change their tire. Not many people would do that, and I think it just shows how generous and giving you are. ”
You could tell them how much you appreciate having such a kind friend because it makes you want to be more kind. [10] X Research source You could also say “Seeing you volunteer at the recycling center made me realize how important the environment is, and now I want to volunteer there too. ”
If you can’t get your hands on stationery, you could also use a blank greeting card.
Handwritten letters don’t need to be just for someone living far away. It could also be for someone you see frequently. For someone living far away, you could write about what’s happening in your life, tell your recipient how much you miss them, reminisce over shared memories, and ask them what’s new in their life. [13] X Research source For someone you see frequently, you could write about how much you enjoy spending time with them, your thoughts on activities you’ve recently done together, and future activities you can plan with them.
If you make your own wax seals, you can buy wax and the impression of your choosing online or at a craft store. [15] X Research source To make the seal, use a butane lighter to melt the wax so that it drips onto your envelope to seal the bottom of the “V” on the back flap, then press the impression into the wax. You can also find wax sticks for use with a glue gun at craft stores and online. [16] X Research source
Because stationery and wax seals add to the weight, you will most likely need to pay a little extra for your postage. [18] X Research source
The gift doesn’t have to be expensive, and something that costs a lot might seem like overkill anyway. Spending a few dollars on a short activity could be just as well-received as something more elaborate. For example, you could give them tickets to a concert by a musician that you both enjoy so that you can spend time together. [20] X Research source Giving shared experiences will not only strengthen your relationship, it will show them that you appreciate their company and want to spend more time with them. [21] X Research source
Even experiences can be wrapped. If you give someone concert tickets, for example, you can put the tickets in a small box and wrap the box. [23] X Research source
For example, you could write “Since you planned our friend’s birthday party, I thought you deserved your own gift. So, I bought us concert tickets so we could spend some time together!”
For example, it might not be a good idea to smile at someone while they’re mourning another person’s loss at a funeral, or while they’re trying to find their keys. [28] X Research source On the other hand, it might be a better time to smile at someone if you’re having a conversation with them, comforting them after a bad day, or telling them a joke. Smiling at someone might make them smile even if you don’t know each other.
Try practicing your smile in the mirror while you think of pleasant thoughts. That will give you a gauge of what your most genuine smile looks like.
Eye contact will also make your interaction more memorable for the other person, so the impact of your smile will last longer. [31] X Research source Be aware of your emotional reaction to someone’s moods. Challenging emotions like sadness, fear, boredom, anxiety, shame, or guilt make us uncomfortable. So to change their mood, we jump into immediate problem-solving. But that is not very helpful. It is better to sit, be with them, and listen to them. Research shows that it can soothe their nervous system. You need not do something or fix things. It is enough to be with them.
