“Friends are relatives you make for yourself.” ― Eustache Deschamps
If you think about this quote for a moment, let the magnitude and gravity of it sink in. While relatives are God-given, and we have no choice in them, friends we can choose for ourselves. Friends are those individuals who compliment us and enrich our lives.
A question that we may ask ourselves is, why do we need friends? Here are 7 reasons as to why friends are important in our lives
- Friends are there to help share your sorrow and lift you up in your moments of joy: Friends will listen to you when you are going through a rough patch in your life, and guide you. When you are in a happy phase of your life they will enhance happiness.
- Friends help you in developing your social skills: Your friends will drag you out of comfort zone and take you to places and events that you may think that you won’t enjoy. A friend is someone who will encourage you to attend an art exhibition or a classical music event, things not in your usual repertoire.
- Friends keep you grounded: Friends bring us face to face with harsh realities. Bringing our attention to clothes that may not be appropriate to our behavior that that may not be correct.
- Friends can improve your sense of belongingness and purpose in life: Having a close friend can reduce stress and boost your happiness
- Your friends can help you cope with traumas in life such death of near one, illness, divorce or end of a relationship, or loss of a job.
- Those with friends tend to look after their own health and happiness
- Friends are an antidote to loneliness: Anyone who as friends will never be lonely. Human’s are social animals and having friends helps bridge loneliness and makes us feel like we are a part of something much bigger
If you have good friends in your life, be thankful. Take this opportunity to reconnect with them and appreciate their presence in your life.
If you are feeling lonely, please consult with an experienced Psychologist. They will be able to guide you on how to overcome this loneliness.
To learn more about Dr. Prerna Kohli, click here
All pictures are courtesy Pixabay
