Buzz
It’s widely acknowledged that forming new friendships post-college can be exceptionally challenging. However, The Wall Street Journal emphasizes that we often compound this difficulty by believing that desiring more friends is inherently negative.
After college, life often becomes unpredictable. You work longer hours, friends start families, and you naturally drift apart from people you’ve known for years. Many individuals end up losing numerous friendships due to these changes. The sense of helplessness that comes with adulthood, realizing the need for companionship, likely contributes to the stigma surrounding it. Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, Irene S. Levine, a clinical professor of psychiatry, highlights how common this experience truly is:
How do you build friendships as an adult? Dr. Levine suggests that the first step is to dismiss the notion that wanting more friends or having fewer of them means something is wrong with you. “As adults, we often assume everyone else has their social circles figured out, and we’re the only ones searching for connections,” she explains. “This couldn’t be further from reality.
Of course, the process of meeting new people and forming friendships can be complex, but once you move past the stigma of feeling inadequate for not having a large social circle, it becomes much simpler. For more practical tips on fostering friendships when encountering new individuals, visit The Wall Street Journal.
Image captured by Christopher Matson.
