Friends are Key to Your Health

Wanting Connection is a great beginning to considering how to make good friends.  After all,  it’s important to find interesting people with whom you can share your life and hopefully find mutual nourishment.

In order to do this, we must admit to ourselves that we have real “needs”. It’s not so simple for many of us to be this vulnerable  to realize this and move forward to make new choices and build a healthy social network. Yet there are so many benefits and much value in maintaining and maturing healthy relationships.

Sometimes, we think that others are socially connected, and that it’s easy.  But friendship isn’t always as it appears to be.  Nor is it easy to maintain quality connection unless we put effort and mindfulness into our social lives.

To make new and deeper friendships:

1.  Get to know yourself first and what turns you spark on.  It’s not necessary that your friends are just like you, but being present with yourself and vital- supports joyful connections.

2.  Learn to listen to others and see what you have in common or if you share similar interests.

3.  Prioritize and nurture your friendships, and let your friends know that you care.  This means reaching out, doing kind things, be available when they need you.  It’s important to have healthy boundaries here, but it’s also heart warming to extend yourself.

4.  Put yourself out there even when you feel awkward or vulnerable.  You are most likely not the only one who feels uncomfortable.  Develop some courage, and you’ll feel better as you learn and grow socially.  In any case,  someone needs to make the first move.  You’ll feel good once you master “initiative”.

5.  Join clubs or sports that help you feel healthy.  If you do things that you enjoy, most likely the healthier and happier you are, it will be easier to connect.

I am writing about friendship today, because as a Craniosacral Therapist, I listen to my clients quite well.  One pattern that I regularly notice is that sometimes people feel very alone and are not sure what to do about it.  What I have realized is that everyone I have ever met likes to be acknowledged, heard, loved and nurtured. I would really like to see that we all lean more deeply into the web of life and love.

Sharon Hartnett CST-D

703 509-1792

www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com

6797 N. High St. #333 Worthington, Ohio 43085