Have you ever felt like your friendships are more like a job than a source of joy and support? Are you constantly relying on one or two friends to fulfill multiple roles in your life, from therapist to business partner to babysitter? It's time to take a step back and reevaluate the way we build relationships.
As adults, we tend to focus on building a small circle of close friends, often sticking to the "no new friends" mantra. While having a tight-knit group can be beneficial, it can also put a lot of pressure on those relationships. When we rely on just a few people to meet all of our emotional, social, and practical needs, we risk burning out those friendships and feeling isolated when they're not available.
Instead, let's take a lesson from children and cultivate a diverse range of relationships. Just like kids have different friends for different activities and interests, we can have multiple circles of people in our lives who bring different skills, perspectives, and experiences to the table.
Imagine having brunch and dinner with one group of friends who love trying new restaurants and talking about current events, while taking trips with another group who are adventurous and love exploring new places. And when you need a therapist, coach, or babysitter, you can hire professionals who are trained and experienced in those areas.
By diversifying our relationships and taking the pressure off our friends to be everything to us, we can cultivate healthier, more sustainable connections. So let's embrace the power of community, and build a network of relationships that nourishes us in all aspects of our lives.
This week meditate on these scriptures:
1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."
Proverbs 18:24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother
Coach Indy