Friendship is a crucial element to your health and well-being, especially now when we are adapting to self-isolation, working from home, schooling from home. We don’t have the usual outlets available to connect and seek support. Developing a trusted circle of friends is key to building a meaningful life. We were designed to journey together, as companions.
On average, most people have about 3 to 5 close friends they interact with on a frequent basis. We often undervalue the importance of these friendships. According to the May Clinic, friends can:
- Increase your sense of belonging and purpose
- Boost your happiness and reduce stress
- Improve your self-confidence and self-worth
- Help you cope with traumas
- Encourage you to change or avoid unhealthy lifestyle habits
You weren’t meant to go it alone. Who’s in your trusted circle of friends? Here is a list of four types of friends you need in your life:
The Prophet: A voice of clarity, honesty and challenge.
The Cheerleader: A voice of support, sympathy and encouragement.
The Entertainer: A voice of humor, practicality and flexibility.
The Guide: A voice of inspiration, belief and spiritual discernment.
Thanks to Grit and Virtue for this inspiration
A good friend is a connection to life – a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world – Lois Wyse