Friendship at every age is vital to mental health, emotional soundness, and overall wellness. Friendship can be difficult. It requires mutual respect and is a give and take. It isn’t always 50/50. Sometimes it’s 80/20, when you are weak she is strong and vice versa. Friendship is not what you say. It’s what you do. It’s how you respond. It’s an act of repetitive grace. Humans are wired to be relational. We aren’t meant to be alone or isolated. However, a fear of emotional intimacy often gets in the way of what could otherwise be a rewarding safe haven. It’s important to know your friend’s love language. Do they need your time, your hugs, your words of affirmation? Or do they need acts of service or thoughtful gifts? 

 

Friendships require trust, vulnerability, and forgiveness. But according to researchers, all of the hard work will pay off in the form of health benefits. In my practice, one of the first questions I ask is “who is a part of your support system?” Individuals with strong and reliable support tend to be more resilient and hopeful, but only to the extent that their friends know about their difficulties. When an individual is the “go to person” in their friend group and they don’t share in the vulnerability, they don’t reap the same benefits. If this describes you, you may want to reconsider your guardedness. Here are 7 health benefits of friendship according to researchers: 1) Friends may extend your lifespan 2) Your friends can impact your physical health 3) Friendships can keep your mind sharp 4) Friends can influence us for the better 5) Your BFFs can help you through tough times 6) Friends can help you cope with rejection, and 7) Friendships can last a lifetime.

 

I am fortunate to have some amazing friends in my life. My friendships are my safe haven. I can unravel, fall apart, and be certain that they will put me back together again without hesitation. Not only does friendship impact physical and mental health, friendship is essential to the soul.