Have you noticed that humans have an inbuilt longing for connection with other people? Of course, good relationships and friendships don’t just ‘happen’. They have to be cultivated and nurtured intentionally.
Each of us has various circles or levels of friendship.
• Acquaintances – these are the dozens and maybe even 100s of people you know but on a surface level.
• Casual friendships – these are the many people with whom you have common interests and activities. There is a basic level of openness.
• Close friendships – these are the people who are close and with whom you have common goals or interests.
• Intimate friendships – these are the few people you have a deeper level of connection, commitment, and trust with. You feel safe with them.
It’s important to choose the right friends, as they influence us probably more than anyone else. We easily become like those we hang around with.
You can’t just order a close friendship from a drive-through window. Friendships take time and effort.
We can all benefit from being friendly. As we reach out and make new acquaintances – out of these will often come close friends.
You can watch a video of this episode on the Soul Food with Mark Conner YouTube channel.