Why humans need friends is still a mystery to scientists. They only know we need them as pals. Years of research suggest that having friends is good for our physical and mental wellbeing.
A recent Harvard University study indicated that older adults with friends have stronger brains. Research shows that establishing friends extends life and prevents illness.
Making friends is excellent for our health because friends help us through our darkest times—divorce, failing exams, getting fired. We know our friends will support us through anything. The scientific reason why friends are so supportive is unknown, but it's beneficial for us.
All connections need commonalities. Our commonalities with others are perfect for starting a bond, but if we don't build these bonds over time and use them as the foundation of our relationship, we can't turn a "acquaintance" into a "friend".
Relationships are complex, therefore there is no simple answer. Because everyone is different, partnerships aren't prescribed.
Meditation helps us understand ourselves and our friends and strengthens our friendships. Only then can we comprehend our perspective on human relations and examine our own relationships.
Similarity is the first component in friendships. Finding common ground with someone is an excellent starting point and a method to get to know them. We may share his values, interests, age, gender, socioeconomic level, and life outlook. We can learn more about our acquaintance by noticing commonalities.
We feel like we know him and want to know more when we notice commonalities. Finding and thinking about these parallels helps us accept our friend's differences. Our similarities encourage us to get to know our friend better.
Being more open to getting to know him/her helps us form stronger ties, which makes us better friends.
Regarding the second factor... Every healthy connection starts with trust. Trust takes time to build. We must build trust with our friend over time. Being vulnerable in front of someone builds trust. We must be open to others to build trust.
We must be willing to communicate our feelings, thoughts, separations, and past memories with them, risking hurt. As we open out to our companion, we become more vulnerable. I trust you enough to share things with you," we say to our pal. I trust it won't hurt.”
When we trust our friends and risk vulnerability in front of them, they trust us and risk too. This makes us part of his life and gain his trust. Trust and vulnerability are needed if we have problems connecting and feel our relationships are superficial.
Having coffee with your buddy, sharing their grief and joys, and your friend giving you equal time and effort... In short, reciprocity is giving and getting equal amounts.
Pause and think. Do you always give to your friend? Are you in a healthy connection with your friend if you focus all your time and energy on them, don't disclose anything about yourself, and just listen to their worries, fears, and successes?
Both conditions destroy friendships, isolating one partner. Should we feel this way? Do we want to offer friends this feeling? Can we modify this if we don't want to?