Don’t take life too seriously Be the relaxed, humorous person in the group. Learn to recognize when a problem or situation is out of your hands, and instead of complaining or worrying about it, throw up your hands and accept it. Your friends will appreciate your calm and collected demeanor. Don’t be afraid to poke some fun at yourself as well! If you can laugh at yourself, people will most likely loosen up and feel more comfortable around you. Examples: * Dance like nobody's watching * Tell a funny story about the time something mildly embarrassing or unfortunate happened to you * Make a deliberately silly joke or pun * If you trip or bump into something, make a humorous self-deprecating comment (e.g. “Wow, I’m in fine form today,” or “Ladies and gentlemen, I present the newest member of the Royal Ballet!”) Suggest things to do based on people’s interests Once you know more about the other people in your group, you can make plans that align with your friends’ passions and interests. If you are planning an activity for a larger group of people, suggest something that everyone can agree upon and that lends itself to group participation: (bowling, playing a sport or board game, going to a concert). If the the activity is for only one or two other people, you can be a little more spontaneous. Suggest trying a brand new restaurant, or exploring a part of the city or countryside you’ve never seen before.