5 Reasons Why You Giggle (When Nothing Funny Has Been Said)

Picture yourself and a guy that you like. You are having a really great conversation with him and then, there it is: the lull, the awkward silence--whatever you want to call it. It happens during the best discussions. No one is talking, so what do you do?

Unfortunately, a lot of us tend to respond to these silences with That Awful Giggle. If you are not familiar with this, please refer to When You Don't Know How To Flirt (by clicking HERE). To quote myself in that post, "You do that awful giggle." It is loud and repetitive, completely unnecessary, and the cause of a headache for anyone around you. The worst part is that this type of giggle thrives when nothing funny has been said.  Your giggling will interrupt the guy you are trying to flirt with in mid-sentence, and in the silence following, you will giggle again. Before you can stop embarrassing yourself, let us figure out why this is all happening.

5 Reasons Why You Giggle


The following reasons and examples all refer to That Awful Giggle: the nervous, fake, high-pitched hybrid of a laugh that comes out whether you want it to or not. It is time to figure why this terrible noise keeps finding its way to the surface of your lips, especially during the times when it is entirely inappropriate.

1. You have no confidence in your flirting skills. You fear that he is a more experienced flirter than you are (once again, please click ME). Or perhaps you feel that he is judging you with every question he asks (read about his stupid questions HERE), and with every glancing look.

2. You are desperate. Every "ha" stands for: "Please, please like me," or "Give me a chance," or even, "You'll love me once you get to know me." Is that the message you want to be sending across? First impressions are so important. Do not blow it with crazed laughter.

3. You do not know how to handle silences. I mentioned this in the introduction of this post. Believe it or not, as human beings we need to learn how to "handle" the natural lulls that occur in conversations. The proper way to do this is to avoid talking, laughing, or giggling when the silences happen. It is perfectly normal for the two of you to be quiet for a moment. The movies and the magazines have told us that silences are awkward, but they do not have to be. You know if a date or any conversation is going well or not. Those silences should be peaceful; neither of you should have to grasp for something to say. We do not have to be talking all the time. That Awful Giggle makes the silence situation so much worse because it automatically shows the guy and everyone within a ten-mile radius that you are frantically nervous.

4. You feel bad because his jokes are not funny. You might not even be attracted to this guy, but you spend a lot of time talking to him, and laughing at his horrible jokes. To tell you the truth, I have a great deal of respect for people who do not laugh when something is not funny. It takes a strong sense of self-assurance and identity. What do you have to lose by staying silent? Nothing. Better yet, he will learn that his jokes/ sense of humor is not entertaining or appropriate.

5. You want other people to notice that you and this guy are talking. Why would you do this? Is his ex-girlfriend is lurking around the corner? Or maybe you just want everyone to see that this particular guy is talking to you ... so you alert them with several giggles.


Observe how every reason began with, "You". This is the giggler's problem. For once, we cannot blame the guy. I know what it is like to be an awful giggler, and honestly, it comes from a deep place of insecurity and constant worry. It is time to get out of your mind and quit over-analyzing.

At the heart of it, giggling can be extremely adorable and well-meant, but it is being wildly abused these days. There is only one solution to a problem like That Awful Giggle: Stop it. Please.


How To Stop It


1. Practice with your friends. I learned how to accept the silences in conversations with my best friend over the phone. We followed one rule based on simple intuition: "If you have nothing to say, do not say anything." Let it be silent. It will not kill either of you. Speak up when you are dying to, otherwise, be present in the moment. Your gut knows best.

2. Be present. Things are happening to you right now as you read this article. Are you distracted? Are you fully here? Is your mind dwelling on the

3. Build your confidence. Lose the desperation, dear. Whether he likes you or not should not rule the ups and downs of your day. Your time is far too precious for that. If he likes you ... great! Do a happy dance. But, do not abuse the giggle before he has a chance to form an opinion. This goes for any circumstance, guy, girl, co-worker, or future employer. That Awful Giggle is a blabbermouth; it tells a whole lot about you. First impressions are everything!

Stay wise.


Love,


Zabrinah



Next Up: How To Stay Grounded


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