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Friendship is super important! It's about having buddies who support us, make us laugh, and "get" us. But while romantic relationships are special, having friends outside of them is also important. Why? Well, friends give us a different kind of bond. They're like a comfy blanket when things get intense in our romantic relationships. They offer a safe place where we can be ourselves without all the romantic stuff.
Having friends apart from our partners helps us stay independent and grow as individuals. Just like having a backup team of cheerleaders for when life gets tough. Friends bring fresh ideas and new experiences, making life more exciting and colourful.
It's natural for us to get really into our relationships, especially when things feel super exciting and passionate. Sometimes, our partner becomes the most important person in our lives, and we just want to be with them all the time. But it's also important to remember that we have other important people in our lives too. We shouldn't forget about our friends, family, or other relationships that matter to us. It's all about finding the right balance between spending time with our partner and making sure we're still there for the other people we care about.
So, having friends outside of our romantic relationship isn't about taking away from our partner, it is about adding more love and support to our lives. It gives us the chance to choose from different flavours or opinions.
Why is it important to have friends outside of your relationship?
It's not good for one person to be everything in another person's life, and it's not good for you to rely on someone else for everything. It's like putting all your eggs in one basket. You never know what might happen, and people can change their minds. So, it's important to have your friends and interests outside of your romantic relationship.
Even if you have a great relationship, it's healthy to have your own thing going on. Having friends outside of your relationship gives you more support and helps you grow as a person. They can give you different perspectives and be there for you when things get tough.
Plus, it's fun to have different people to hang out with and do things with. So, while it's nice to have a special someone in your life, it's also important to have friends outside of your relationship to make life more interesting and fulfilling.
To put it in simpler terms, it is important to have friends outside of the relationship because it provides;
Reduced relationship pressure
Different perspectives
Improved social life
Someone to talk to when things get tough in your relationship
What Happens When You Only Spend Time With Your Romantic Partner?
Having good friends around us can be helpful as we go through life. We might need to turn to others for support, encouragement, or just to help us sort out our thoughts and challenge our perceptions. But when we only spend time with our romantic partners and neglect our other relationships, we miss out on this luxury. We don't have those extra people to lean on or bounce ideas off of. So when we only focus on our romantic partner and forget about everything else we end up;
Becoming overly dependent on our partners
Feeling stuck in our relationships
Losing sight of our own interests
Becoming socially isolated
When these occur we strain our relationships by putting too much pressure on our partners to fulfill all our social and emotional needs. When we focus solely on our romantic partners and neglect friendships outside of the relationship, we inadvertently place an immense amount of pressure on the partnership.
Our partners become our sole source of companionship, emotional support, and social interaction. While this may seem comforting at first, it can eventually lead to strain within the relationship. The burden of fulfilling all our social and emotional needs becomes overwhelming for our partner.
Without the balance and enrichment that friendships provide, we risk placing unrealistic expectations on our partner and stifling the growth and evolution of the relationship.
Ways to nurture our friendship while in a relationship
The fact that you should have friends outside doesn't mean that you have to make less time for your partners or give them less attention. You have to find a way a way to balance it. Make more time for your significant other but also have some time for friends. Here is how you can do that;
Make time
Time is invaluable in all relationships. Nurturing friendships while in a romantic relationship requires deliberate effort to connect with both friends and your partner. Amidst life's hustle, prioritizing face-to-face interactions with friends is essential. Whether it's enjoying a cup of coffee or sharing a glass of wine, these moments of togetherness are precious.
Make a conscious decision to carve out time from your busy schedule to spend with friends. Whether meeting them for coffee or hosting them at your place, regular gatherings foster stronger bonds. Consider scheduling these weekly meetups, ensuring you've already dedicated ample time to your partner. These interactions not only strengthen friendships but also infuse our lives with laughter and shared experiences. As the saying goes "It is the quality, not the quantity"
By doing this, you create a harmonious balance, enriching your life with love, support, and meaningful connections that uplift and sustain you through life.
Make an effort to foster friendships between your friends and your partner
The point is to actively work on building a positive relationship between your friends and your partner. This involves facilitating interactions and creating opportunities for them to get to know each other better. Let's say you have a close group of friends who you've known for years, and you've recently started a romantic relationship with someone special.
You value both your friends and your partner and want them to get along well. You encourage interactions and find opportunities for them to connect. They feel more integrated into your social circle and are excited about future gatherings. Similarly, your friends comment on how much they like your partner and are looking forward to spending more time together.
Through your efforts to foster friendships between your friends and your partner, you've successfully created a harmonious social environment where everyone feels connected and valued.
Technology can be a magnificent tool to nurture friendships
Online communication platforms offer avenues for maintaining connections and fostering friendships, particularly when face-to-face interaction is limited. Rather than overlooking its potential, we should recognize the capacity of technology to facilitate community-building and foster a feeling of belongingness.
You could create a group page for your friends where you can stay connected and share memes, news and so on. You can even do a group video chat with people in that group.
Final Remarks
Taking care of friendships outside of our romantic relationship means making time for real connections and meaningful hangouts. Whether it's meeting up in person for coffee, doing fun stuff together, or keeping in touch through social media, investing in friendships makes life richer with laughter, support, and a feeling of belonging. When we value and nurture these relationships, we build a strong support system that makes life better.
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