4 Tips to create genuine friendships
Do you ever find yourself longing for a deep, honest, judgment-free heart to heart with a friend? There is truly nothing more therapeutic than enjoying a meal with friends while sharing experiences and having a good laugh. As we get older, it becomes a challenge to nurture those friendships as start we new jobs, marry, move to different cities, or become mothers. Sometimes through these changes, we lose friends or grow distant. But, what’s amazing is that with change comes an opportunity to find new genuine friendships OR even find new ways to nurture current friendships. Here are four awesome ways to create genuine, long-lasting friendships in adulthood:
- Be open-minded. We tend to go for comfort when choosing friends. Try befriending someone who grew up in a different culture than you or even someone new in town. Be open to trying new foods, learning new languages, and traditions. In my experience with this, I had the opportunity to try new restaurants in a city that I’ve in for more than a decade. It is so beneficial to step out of our comfort zone because you never know what amazing people are waiting on the other side.
- Be accommodating. Do you have friends that you feel your schedule never aligns with? If so, my only advice is to KEEP TRYING. These days, our friends may be parents or have a heavy workload, or be nurturing a new relationship. Honestly, they could be using that Friday night to get to sleep early. Be understanding that they may cancel at the last minute or need a break from socializing for a while. Be understanding and you will have a friend for life.
- Focus on quality over quantity. As straight-forward as this is, I want to note that there will be some people who have a dozen or more amazing, genuine friendships! This tip simply means to make sure your friendships bring you joy and have a positive impact on your life.
- Be genuine. One thing I’ve learned in adulthood is that friendships flourish when I’m open and honest and transparent about who I am. Do not be afraid to show who you truly are struggles, flaws, and all. When you are unapologetically yourself, you leave room for others to open up and be honest with you. That is truly when the best friendships are formed.
We live in a world full of so many amazing people. By being open to new, fresh friendships we give ourselves room for new opportunities. I challenge you to use these tips to strengthen any current friendships you have or make a new friend!
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