Article Reference Code: BC02112025-01
After my TEDx talk in Albury, I started attending weekly pronunciation lessons with a pronunciation expert in Melbourne. Although I can communicate well, I want to make sure that every locally born Australian can understand me clearly.
One thing I have noticed is that Australians who do not often interact with people born overseas sometimes find it harder to adjust to slight variations in mouth movements.
At first, I just wanted to reduce my accent. I started speaking English full time after the age of nineteen, and Mandarin is my first language. Having an accent is part of who I am, it is the result of speaking Mandarin which uses completely different mouth movements.
When my teacher said, “You are not acting like a student,” I was honestly shocked because I thought I was. I have been studying psychology and human behaviour for years since leaving school, especially to help people build body confidence through my work.
But after reflecting on it, I realised he was right. I had lost some of the curiosity I once had, the willingness to ask questions and go deeper into what I am learning. Because I can already communicate well enough, it is easy to stop studying and still live life comfortably.
That feedback reminded me how easily we lose our childlike curiosity as we grow older. When we were young, we asked questions about everything. But as adults, we often stop, maybe because people around us do not like being asked too many questions, or because we believe learning ends once school is over.
In social situations, many people who struggle with body confidence may feel shy or unsure of what to say. Without finding common ground, it can feel hard to keep a conversation alive or build connections. But in truth, it is not difficult at all. We just need to act like students again, being curious enough to ask one simple question about what someone enjoys.
I remember talking to a friend who loves fishing. I do not know much about fishing, but I noticed the back of his phone showed a photo of a fish he had caught. So I asked, “What is the biggest fish you have ever caught?” That one question led to a whole conversation about his most exciting and even scary fishing moments. By the end, I felt I knew him much better than before.
That is how curiosity builds connection. Even if we know nothing about the topic, being genuinely interested helps us connect and make friends with anyone.
Instead of sitting quietly in the corner at a social event, stand up and ask one question. Connection always begins with curiosity. Do not wait for others to start the conversation. When two people are both waiting, no one gets the chance to talk or to be known.
About the author: I’m Chi Chi Wang, helping people who struggle with body image build confidence and live with purpose.
Thank you for reading. If this reflection spoke to you, I invite you to explore more articles, each one is written to help you build confidence, self-worth, and a healthier body image.
📖 My book From Ugly to Beautiful Without Surgery is now available, created from over ten years of exploration into what true beauty really means.
💡 If you’re ready to go deeper, C.C.Within offers workshops, talks, and coaching programs designed to help you rebuild self-trust and live with purpose.
The C.C.WITHIN™ Model is my original framework for building undeniable confidence without changing your appearance. First introduced in 2025.
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