![]() Young Americans are more unhappy these days, and a big reason is their lack of close friendships… According to a Pew Research poll, only 32 percent of Americans ages 30 and younger say they have five or more close friends. According to psychologist Esther Perel, this factor is a prime cause behind the many emotional problems affecting today’s youth. Young people reported feelings of malaise and even hopelessness. They attributed these feelings to social media, climate change concerns, and social immobility. But loneliness cannot be discounted. “I think people are more lonely because they are less adept at being in relationships as that involves conflict, friction and differences,” Perel says. “An enormous amount of people are cutting off friends and family members like never before.” The benefits of friendship are numerous. We learn a great deal about ourselves through relating to and partnering with others. Moreover, friendships are investments. For older generations, exchanging favors over time contributed to the formation of a mutually beneficial, face-to-face social network. Today’s young people do not appear to be making these small investments. “Relationships demand obligation,” Perel says. “Communities demand obligation. Communities are not just there to serve our needs. Your community gives you belonging in return for your obligation to the wellbeing of others.” One key to maintaining friendships is having realistic expectations. Being a positive presence 100 percent of the time is not a realistic expectation to have of others or a prerequisite for you to engage with them. In fact, it can keep you from forming valuable connections. Would you say you have five or more close friends, and how does having friends affect your happiness and well being? To join the conversation, click on "comments" below. Learn more about creating a habit around masterful communication with our online learning courses awarded International Gold for Best Hybrid Learning of 2022.
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
January 2025
Categories
All
|