How you doin’?

All F.R.I.E.N.D.S. watchers and fans know this line all too well.

Joey. He keeps saying this when seeking to date a woman.

But today I thought about the hidden meaning behind this line.

It is pure empathy!

Joey always wants to know how a woman is doing. Maybe what he really has is empathy for the women. The way he cares for the ones he is interested in or dates: Erin, Janine, Ursula, Kate, Kathy, Charlie and Rachel. His character shows deep concern for all of them. So he is actually sending a message to the audience. To ask, how are you doing?

However, in everyday life, how many people do we really ask ‘how you doin’? How many times do we even think about asking the person sat next to us in the train, at work about how they really are?

How many times do we actually stop thinking about ourselves and think about how others are feeling?

For some people, you may be the only person who actually asks them how they are.

So next time you feel low, think about asking someone else ‘how you doin’? Maybe it will bring more positive energy to your life!