Engaging in competitive activities--trying to beat a rival, striving to gain control--shows up in an entirely different area of brain. Of course, this is also a very important survival skill, but it tends to come with its own tangible rewards--more food, more wealth, mate of your choice, etc.

I'm still waiting for research on highly competitive individuals. Do their brains light up in pleasure zone when they win? Is there some sort of shift that happens? What about sociopaths? Do their pleasure centers flare when they lie, cheat, steal, or harm someone?

There's just no end to thinking when you view world with a healthy dose of skepticism. Socrates observed that only thing he knew for sure is that he knew nothing. Sticklers are all too happy to point out that this, in fact, suggests that he knows that nothing exists, knows that he knows this, knows that he knows that he knows this, ad nauseum. By same token, if you are skeptical about everything, you must be skeptical of your own skepticism! Just when you think you've got something figured out, it's time to be skeptical again.

This isn't mainstream approach to thinking. We tend to like having ideas we can hang on to. We choose a couple of stable concepts, tie up a hammock and swing there contentedly.

That's one way to live.

Another way is to hang that hammock on a couple of sturdy ideas, sway there a bit, and then go off and find another place to swing. It's a lot more work, but you cover a lot more territory in process. Your intellectual journey may be arduous but infinitely rewarding.

Because there are limitations in scientific investigation and plenty of mysteries remaining, Skeptics keep in mind words of Albert Einstein: "All our science, measured against reality, is primitive and childlike--and yet it is most precious thing we have."

Einstein believed in power of unknown and reveled in right to figure things out as best we can. He valued imagination over knowledge, but persisted in searching for evidence that what we dream can be described and reported scientifically.

Skeptics are cautious believers. They hope for magnificence, they dream of infinite truths and they doggedly pursue their right to be wrong. They are forever moving their hammocks and testing untried trees.

And they are downright evangelical about it.

"Hi Tom" "Good morning" "Hello"

There is a second way to break silence and that is with a comment. This works well with strangers.

On a plane: "This has been a long delay." To a clerk: "Looks busy today." To a friend: "That was a good football game last night."

Now that silence is broken, it is time to get conversation flowing with second step.

2. Ask a good question

Almost any question will work. In fact any question is better than dead silence. However, a good question will get conversation moving. Here are a few examples:

"How are you doing today?" "How was your week?" "Where are you from?" "How often do you fly?" "What do you enjoy about this class?"

You might be thinking, "What if conversation does not start after I ask a question?" This will sometimes happen. When it does, just remember car illustration. Turn key over again and ask another question. The conversion will eventually start.

That's it! Break silence and ask a good question. Do this and you will be able to start a conversation as easily as you start a car.

--Arlen Busenitz is author of "Conversation Magic: 7 Keys to Unlock your Ability to Conquer Shyness, Make Friends, and Confidently Talk with Anyone." Free tips and articles here: http://www.conversation-tips.com/sc

Arlen is an avid reader and is a gifted communicator. His desire is to help others improve their life and experience success.