The power of "How are you?"

It's a cultural norm to ask "How are you?" to everyone--to people we've just met, and to people we've known as long as we've been alive.  Most will answer "good" "fine" "ok" etc. (Although to say "I'm good" actually says that you're a good person, but that's beside the point.) Once we've asked the question, we will be asked in return "How are you?" We'll respond somewhat truthfully, and that ends that part of the conversation.  However, I have noticed in the past few weeks as I've had various friends go through really hard times, that you can either let the conversation go that way, or you can actually have a meaningful conversation, and draw people out of the shell of cultural norms.  If you ask the question sincerely, with love in your eyes and voice, then people will be a lot more likely to answer honestly, and you can be an encouragement to the person you're asking.  So next time you ask "How are you?" ask it like you mean it.  You might be surprised where the conversation heads.