
Have you ever been telling someone a story, and you slowly realize that you’re losing them?
You see their eyes wander, they look at their watch, maybe even yawn.
It’s not a good feeling, and if it happens too often, you might start wondering whether you’re a boring person.
Spoiler alert: You’re not. I don’t believe in boring people. Every human on this Earth is interesting.
Instead, I believe that some people are less skilled when it comes to showing others just how interesting they truly are. And that’s something that can be learned.
So in this article, I’m not going to show you how to be an interesting person, because you already are.
Instead, I’ll help you identify what it is that makes you an interesting person, and build up some skills you can use to let everyone know that you are far from boring.
What does it mean to be boring?
As I said, the idea of “being boring” doesn’t sit right with me.
Everyone has a story and a history that makes them interesting.
Your unique combination of personality traits and passions makes you interesting.
The weird little things about you, like your adoration for hummingbirds or the songs you choose to sing in the shower, make you interesting.
When someone is described as “boring,” it usually means that they aren’t letting any of these interesting things shine through.
There are a million reasons why a person might not show their “interesting side.”
It may be situational. If you’re tired, in a bad mood, or bored yourself, then odds are you aren’t going to make yourself all that interesting in the moment.
Or you might be the kind of person who lets their interesting flag fly when they’re with friends, but then becomes more reserved around colleagues. (That can often be a good strategy to get along with coworkers.)
Or it may simply be that you haven’t picked up on the best methods for showing your interesting personality yet. That’s what this article is for.
Before we get into that, though, let’s clear up two important things about the concept of “boring people”:
Wealth, looks, and fame don’t make you interesting
If you’re trying to figure out how to be a more interesting person, you might decide that you need to travel the world on a yacht, or sample the most exotic cuisine, or dress in the most haut couture outfits.
But take it from me—I’ve rubbed elbows with plenty of wealthy, fashionable, well-traveled people, and they have bored me just as often (if not more) than folks who don’t have these material, superficial assets.
On the flip side, some of the most interesting people I’ve ever met have been seemingly quite ordinary from the outside. An Uber driver once told me the most fascinating story about a botched leg amputation. My brother-in-law works at an IT call center, but also designs board games about time traveling and is a master shoe cobbler to boot.
That is not to say that some people have interesting lives because they can afford to travel, or that you won’t meet highly fashionable, good-looking folks who are very interesting people as well.
But these things aren’t prerequisites in the slightest.
Bottom line: What makes people interesting is their passions and personalities, not their material goods or physical appearance.
Boring is in the eye of the beholder
My father is perhaps the biggest baseball fan on the planet.
He’s got a large group of friends that he talks to about all the statistics, the playoffs and series, the long history of the game.
I couldn’t think of anything more boring, but to Dad and his friends, this is the most interesting stuff there is.
Meanwhile, if I tried to talk to my Dad about my favorite show (“RuPaul’s Drag Race”), or my passion for baking the perfect chocolate chip cookie, he’d probably be snoring before I got out two sentences.
This is because there’s no official designation of what’s “boring” and what’s “interesting.” It is all personal preference.
Heck, there are large swathes of people who find rocks to be the most interesting thing in the world. They are called geologists, and if you ever get a chance to chat with one, I recommend it—their passion for rocks is so interesting.
This is why we gravitate toward friends and relationships that have mutual interests. If we’re both interested in a few of the same things, we’ll have plenty to talk about—even if other folks might find the conversation a snooze fest.
Related: How to Hold a Conversation and Build Deeper Connections
Finding what makes you interesting
Everyone has something interesting about them, but sometimes we need to do a little digging to figure out what that is. You can be like an archaeologist of your own personality, carefully brushing away the dust to reveal the treasures underneath.
The first step is simple reflection. Get out a journal, open up your Notes app, or just find a quiet moment to think about what lights you up inside. What topics make you excited to talk about them? What activities make you lose track of time?
Your interesting qualities might be obvious to you, or they might take some excavation to discover. Maybe you never thought about how fascinating your knowledge of cryptozoology is, or how your perfectly organized book collection reveals your passion for human stories.
Here are some journaling prompts to help you discover your interesting side:
- What could you talk about for hours without getting tired?
- What do your friends and family often ask you for advice about?
- What were you passionate about as a child that you might want to revisit?
- If you could learn anything without worrying about time or money, what would it be?
- What makes you different from your family or friend group?
Remember that interests and passions aren’t static—they grow and change as you do. You don’t need a massive collection of hobbies to be interesting—you just need to be enthusiastic and engaged, and learn how to show it to others.
For more help discovering your inner passions, check out these articles:
The art of sharing: communication and storytelling
A captivating story can transform any experience, big or small, into a memorable moment. Learning the fundamentals of storytelling will help you share your interesting qualities with the world.
Related: Storytelling Is Sales. 5 Tips from a Fiction Editor Turned Salesperson
Stories worth telling have a clear point or purpose. Maybe your tale reveals something about human nature, shares a lesson you learned, or simply makes people laugh. Skip the play-by-play of your morning commute unless something genuinely surprising happened—save those daily observations for your journal.
Strong stories follow a natural arc. Hook your audience with an intriguing opening, build tension through carefully chosen details, and wrap up with a satisfying conclusion. The time you got lost in Tokyo becomes compelling when you open with spotting a mysterious shrine, build through your attempts to find your way back, and close with the unexpected friendship you made along the way.
Mastering delivery takes practice and patience. Read and watch stories that interest you, and pay attention to why they interest you. Note when you lose attention when someone else is talking—what caused your mind to drift?
Pay attention to your pacing—too slow loses interest, too fast loses clarity. Include enough detail to paint a picture, but avoid overwhelming your audience with every minor fact. Here’s my guide on how to be funny to help you add some personality to your stories, but remember that authenticity matters more than forced humor.
Finding your people
Having interesting hobbies or stories means little if you’re sharing them with people who don’t appreciate them (like my Dad when he tries to talk to me about baseball). Building connections with like-minded individuals creates space for your interests to flourish and grow.
Local communities provide endless opportunities to meet people who share your passions. Whether you’re into board games, bird watching, or bread baking, chances are there’s a group in your area that meets regularly. Check local libraries, community centers, and sites like Meetup to find gatherings that match your interests.
Online spaces expand your reach beyond geographical boundaries. Reddit communities, Discord servers, and Bluesky threads connect enthusiasts from around the world. These platforms let you share knowledge, ask questions, and geek out about your interests without worrying about boring anyone.
Creating content gives you another avenue to connect with your community. Start a YouTube channel about vintage car restoration, write a Substack newsletter about urban foraging, or share your artwork at the local art show. Focus on adding value to your chosen community rather than chasing likes or followers.
The beauty of finding your people lies in the freedom to be fully yourself. When surrounded by others who share your interests, you never have to dim your enthusiasm or hold back your knowledge. Your “boring” passion for historical reenactment becomes fascinating when shared with fellow history buffs.
Here are some more articles about finding your people:
Cultivating curiosity
The most interesting people on Earth are highly curious.
They have no problem finding other interesting people, because they genuinely find a wide variety of subjects and humans to be fascinating.
Building genuine interest in the world around you naturally draws others into conversation. People gravitate toward those who ask thoughtful questions and show authentic enthusiasm for learning new things.
Start with the people right in front of you. Everyone carries fascinating stories and unique perspectives, whether they’re strangers on the train or longtime friends. Ask about their experiences, their viewpoints, their dreams. Listen deeply to their answers—curiosity isn’t just about asking questions, but truly wanting to understand the responses.
Reading widely opens doors to new interests and deeper conversations. Pick up books outside your usual genres, dive into long-form articles about unfamiliar topics, or explore documentaries about subjects you never considered before. This knowledge builds bridges between you and others, creating unexpected connections and memorable discussions.
Take initiative in trying new experiences. Sign up for that pottery class you’ve been eyeing, say yes to invitations that push your comfort zone, or explore an unfamiliar neighborhood in your city. Each new experience gives you fresh perspectives to share and helps you relate to a wider range of people.
Remember that curiosity often leads to vulnerability—and that’s a good thing. Asking questions, admitting what you don’t know, and showing genuine interest in learning from others creates authentic connections that make any conversation more engaging.
Every person carries fascinating stories, unique perspectives, and passionate interests. By developing your storytelling skills, finding communities who share your enthusiasm, and remaining curious about the world around you, your natural charm and character will shine through. The world is waiting to hear what makes you interesting.