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Pregnancy Workshop Host’s Assumption Leaves Her And CEO In Uncomfortable Silence
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Pregnancy Workshop Host’s Assumption Leaves Her And CEO In Uncomfortable Silence

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Awkward moments are a part of life, and they happen to the best of us. But during the actual experience, it would be understandable to want to crawl into a hole and not come out for the next six months. 

This woman knows this feeling all too well. She was kind enough to share her story about meeting a CEO for the first time during a work function and mistakenly assuming she was pregnant. 

The worst part about this situation is that our author may have blown a potential networking opportunity. In an attempt to overcome the sheer embarrassment, she turned to the TIFU subreddit for some answers.

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    It’s normal to experience an occasional awkward moment

    Image credits: PNW Production / pexels (not the actual photo)

    But for the woman in this story, the embarrassing situation involved a potential business venture

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    Image credits: katemangostar / freepik (not the actual photo)

    She felt immediate regret for possibly offending the other person and losing a networking opportunity

    Image credits: LustLounge

    There are upsides to an awkward situation

    You can’t help but feel for the author after she endured those grating minutes. But if you ask experts, awkward situations add value to our lives. 

    As University of Virginia psychology professor Bethany Teachman explained in an interview with U.S. News, these comical misfortunes also help us absorb proper social cues and motivate us to avoid repeating the same mistake. 

    However, they also have a downside. For author and John Jay College of Criminal Justice professor Joshua Clegg, Ph.D., it can cause some people to steer clear of social situations with a high chance of debilitating awkwardness, such as first dates or, in the author’s case, networking events. 

    “These experiences can become central to a self-perpetuating pattern of social fear and avoidance,” Clegg said in the same interview.

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    Reframing is the best way to deal with awkwardness 

    Teachman describes an awkward situation as “an incongruence” between the actual situation and our perception of what should happen. We tend to overlook and even exaggerate the reality of what is in front of us. 

    She advises reframing our perspectives as a quick way out. 

    “The trick is deciding how meaningful they are and how much they’re getting in the way for you,” she explains.

    If necessary, Teachman advises questioning whether you’re accurate about the gravity of your situation. In the case of the woman in the story, did the CEO think less of her? And if that were true, does that automatically mean the worst has come? 

    Reframing a mindset is easier said than done and requires practice. But hopefully, the executive simply laughed it off without ruining the author’s chances of getting a networking opportunity. 

    What do you think, dear readers? 

    The author added more details to her account as some commenters shared their advice and personal experiences

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    Miguel Ordoñez

    Miguel Ordoñez

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

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    Struggling writer by day. Frustrated jazz drummer by night. Space Cowboy 24/7.

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    Miguel Ordoñez

    Miguel Ordoñez

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Struggling writer by day. Frustrated jazz drummer by night. Space Cowboy 24/7.

    Gabija Palšytė

    Gabija Palšytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

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    Gabija is a photo editor at Bored Panda. Before joining the team, she achieved a Professional Bachelor degree in Photography and has been working as a freelance photographer since. She also has a special place in her heart for film photography, movies and nature.

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    Gabija Palšytė

    Gabija Palšytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Gabija is a photo editor at Bored Panda. Before joining the team, she achieved a Professional Bachelor degree in Photography and has been working as a freelance photographer since. She also has a special place in her heart for film photography, movies and nature.

    What do you think ?
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    Alexandra
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Never assume in general and in this particular instance, never ask.

    Me. Just Me.
    Community Member
    4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have a host of medical issues which over time has caused me to gain some weight. However, even long before that showed, I've had a bloated abdomen that made me look like I'm in my second trimester, most likely from those same medical issues. As the weight built up, I now look like I'm in my third. I'm not bothered by this question as much as I probably should be, but maybe because of how many times I've received that question.

    Load More Comments
    Alexandra
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Never assume in general and in this particular instance, never ask.

    Me. Just Me.
    Community Member
    4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have a host of medical issues which over time has caused me to gain some weight. However, even long before that showed, I've had a bloated abdomen that made me look like I'm in my second trimester, most likely from those same medical issues. As the weight built up, I now look like I'm in my third. I'm not bothered by this question as much as I probably should be, but maybe because of how many times I've received that question.

    Load More Comments
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