How many people do you engage regularly in a week, and do they actually give you more energy, or is it the other way around?
When building your support circle, quality most definitely trumps quantity. Everyone says they come together during hard times, but how many of them actually do?
Creating a support circle is more than just having names in your phone to call. It’s about forming real connections who can offer empathy, warmth, comfort, and strength during tough times. Are you ready to evaluate your friends and see who truly has your back?
Read on to discover insights on how to build a cherished inner circle to significantly improve your life!
The Importance of a Support Circle
Why even have a support circle? In today’s fast-paced and digitally connected world, interactions between people are becoming more transactional, and empathy is at a minimum. Hence, having a reliable group of friends can significantly impact your mental and emotional well-being.
Reliable friends are not just having people who laugh during the good times but also having people who listen and understand you during tough times.
A strong support circle reduces stress, provides encouragement, and can bring out the best in us. Think about them as your first line of defence against the world’s madness.
Assessing Your Current Relationships
Before you start building, consider what’s already there. How well do your current relationships serve you?
People change, and so do relationships, which is why it’s important to regularly evaluate those around you.
It’s time to sit down and be brutally honest with yourself. Create a list of those you truly trust and reflect on how they’ve supported you in the past. Are they emotionally available? Do they offer advice when you need it, or just open their ears and listen without judgement?
It sounds harsh, but your best friend that you can have a drink with might not always be the most reliable when it comes to your inner circle. And that’s okay!
Who’s a Strong Support Circle Member
Although everyone may have different criteria, there are a few general key traits to consider: empathy, loyalty, dependability, and maybe even a good sense of humour! They should be people who are genuinely interested in your well-being.
Empathy ensures they’ll truly understand your feelings. Loyalty ensures they’ll stick around through thick and thin. Dependability means they’re there when you need them, not just when it’s convenient. And that sense of humour? It brings joy even in the darkest times.
If the person you’re evaluating checks all these boxes, they might just be support circle material!
Identifying Red Flags in Relationships
What about who to avoid?
Well, beware of those who consistently criticise, show unreliability, or constantly exude negative energy around them. Someone that doesn’t make you feel good after hanging out with them. They often focus on their own needs only and may not serve you well in the long term.
Also, avoid people who thrive on drama or seem to drain your energy rather than replenish it. Friendships should leave you feeling uplifted, not heavy. Your energy is precious, and it deserves to be invested wisely.
How to Strengthen Friendships
Got your list down? It’s time to nurture that connection! Consistent communication is key to maintaining friendships. That’s regular check-ins, fun hangouts, or even simple text messages that keep the bond strong.
By wanting someone in your support circle, you should also show genuine interest in their life, it’s a two-way street after all! Friendships, like any other relationship, require effort from both parties. Little gestures of appreciation can transform a friendship from good to great!
The Art of Saying No to the Wrong People
Learning to say ‘no’ is an art worth mastering. When a friendship doesn’t serve you anymore, it’s more than okay to say goodbye.
It may be an awkward process, so maintain humility and kindness, but be firm. It’s better to close a draining chapter than to let it drag you down. Life is only so short, we’re better off worrying about ourselves than other people.
We’ve all got the same 24 hours, and where you invest those hours matters. Fewer, deeper connections often result in better support circles.
Diversity in Your Support Circle
Here’s a quick tip: Consider having different people from different backgrounds in your support circle can offer advice you hadn’t considered and broaden your view.
Embrace differences in age, culture, and experiences. They will add depth to your support circle, so when you hit a wall with someone, there’s always another person that you can rely on that may think differently! Who wouldn’t want that?
Building Your Inner Circle Wisely
Ultimately, it’s all about who you choose to invest your time and energy in. Your support circle can make life’s journey more enriching and less daunting, so be very careful and evaluate regularly!
Reiterating the key takeways: Focus on quality, embrace diversity, and make sure it’s mutual.
Appreciate every connection, let go of those that don’t serve you. From here, watch your life change as you build deeper connections!