It’s important to acknowledge how vital friendships are, says Alistair Williams, a coach and founder of A Clear Path Ahead. “Psychologists talk of the importance of ‘relatedness’, ‘affiliation’ or ‘community’ as not only being at the heart of a contented life but also crucial to our physical and mental wellbeing.” How to widen your circle: 1. Think about what you need from a friendship. To help you streamline your search, think about what area of your life a new friend might fulfil. “It could be linked to a particular interest – whether foreign language films, a certain sport or trekking in the mountains,” says Williams. “As our interests grow, we develop too and may find that we have nobody to share them with. Often it's simply around basic human connection – wanting someone to talk to, someone who is interested in you, as you are in them.” 2. Deepen your everyday conversations. “If you find yourself regularly talking about work or other mundane topics with a colleague you could
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