Nurturing Adult Friendships

Let’s face it: It’s hard to make friends as an adult. If you don’t stay connected to childhood or college friends, you might wind up knowing lots of people, but being close to few. It’s an unfortunate reality for many, given that research shows how vital close friendships are for well-being. 

There are many reasons why it’s difficult to bond closely with others in adult life—ranging from lack of time to a focus on careers, finances and family, to an emphasis on quantity over quality—but it is possible to get closer to existing friends. Writing in The New York Times, Emma Pattee offers some ways of doing so: 

• Create a foundation of security: Be responsive, reliable and consistent.
• Pay attention: When your friend shares something about their life, focus with your full attention.
• Confide: Self-disclosure is a main driver of relationship. So don’t try to be seen as perfect…instead be real. 
• Give friends a chance to help: Ask someone for assistance, even if you could survive without it; give friends a chance to show up for you.
• Know that closeness isn't one size fits all: How you measure the depth of friendship is personal, but everyone agrees on its importance for health and happiness.   (Tweet it!)

Would you like to have closer friendships in your adult years, and what have you proactively done to meet this goal? To join the conversation, click "comments" above.

If you would like to learn more about creating a habit around masterful communication, check out our online learning programs.  

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