Friendship is like exercise, the more we can do it, the more comfortable it will feel, the more we're going to feel the absence of it when it's not there.
One of my 10 goals this year is to spend a lot more in-person quality time with my friends. The specific goal that I created is for me to initiate two or more in-person friend dates a month.
Making time for friendships is the most important thing. If all I'm doing is working, that is a one-sided life.
I had to push myself. It's like exercise, right? I never look back on a workout and think, God, I wish I hadn't done that.
When I actually make time and push through that energy, what I perceive as energy depletion, and I actually show up for my friends and the dates that we've set, I always am so grateful that I did it.
I decided that I was going to be with her in the hospital for a week. And I did that. And then I came back home, and I was so glad I did. I just put my project on pause.
Limiting beliefs: I can only have so many friends. What if somebody great comes in? Investing in friendships is going to be a struggle, right, before I've even started.
Limiting belief: I'm maybe too old to make friends. That ship has sailed. Incredibly easy to make friends as an adult.
Lonely business owner, really not prioritizing friendships with people that didn't have businesses.
Part of a business group that's kind of spiritually based and business based.
Most of the women in my wedding party, I had eight women in my wedding party, and six of those were from my business group.
My business was my primary focus at that time, as I was not in a romantic relationship.
I aimed to establish a balanced life that encompassed both time and financial stability.
The quality of my relationships was crucial for my sense of fulfillment, both personally and professionally.
Emphasizing the importance of allowing people into our lives, as being alone may not provide the nourishment and support we need.
In addition to dating, I made room in my small bedroom to welcome others into my life.
Highlighting the need to create space in our schedules for relationships, akin to practicing feng shui.
The area in Northern California is unique, situated on a boardwalk with the water as the front yard and a tidal marsh as the backyard.
Julie, a community builder, has been organizing events like game nights and barbecues through online message boards to bring people together.
Julie expressed feeling excluded as a single person among married friends, highlighting the challenges of social dynamics in such a community.
I made a decision based on that article because I felt like I couldn't give energy to all of my friendships. Who am I to limit the love that I can give and receive?
As a human being, we're capable of so much. I want to have a more fluid experience with my friendships and allow love in as much as wants to come to me.
Intentionality is a really important factor in this. It's being intentional about letting go of limiting beliefs that we may have about friendships. It's being willing to create space in our schedule for friendships, or like you said, and or invite people into our existing experiences.
I think having these guidelines can be really important because it quantifies it, you know, not to get too data-driven, but I think it's, there's something about setting a goal around friendship.
Being connected with others helps us feel connected to ourselves. It takes the loneliness away and puts it with solitude, which is a much more intentional way to give ourselves what we might need in terms of alone time.
When I am intentional about my friendships and really making time for them, reaching out, connecting with them in real life, then I am nine times out of ten feeling much more connected to myself as well.
In Europe and other parts of the world, including actually Hawaii, people make time for connection. Work isn't the primary driving force for a lot of people outside of the US.
Admitting that we might need something other than what we have can be the first step.
If you're feeling disconnected, there's hope for you. You can change that.
It starts with feeling the discomfort of disconnection and not burying yourself in work to avoid loneliness.
The more we can do it, the more comfortable it will feel, the more we're gonna feel the absence of it when it's not there, and that may perhaps cause us to be more intentional.
Friendship being like exercise, The more we can do it, the more comfortable it will feel, the more we're gonna feel the absence of it when it's not there, and that may perhaps cause us to be more intentional.
What you want wants you. And so if you're wanting a partner, wanting a friend, there are people out there who are wanting that also, and if they meet you, they're going to want that with you.