Humans are relational people. According to The American Journal of Psychiatry, social interaction and relationships matter so much that they impact the well-being and longevity of life. Being socially fit means that you are able to exercise healthy and balanced relationships, while also assessing the state of your relationships. Similar to a health check-up, your friendships need a check-up too. Here are five things to look for at your next friendship check-up.
Emotional Depth
If you can be your authentic self with your friends, then that is an indicator that your friendship is moving in a positive direction. Close relationships don’t necessarily require close proximity. They require transparency and honesty about how you’re feeling. If you are doing a friendship check-up, then ask yourself whether you have true depth in those connections.
Affirmations
Shared experiences create closeness, and the more experience you have under your belt with a friend the deeper your friendships will go. When evaluating your friendships, it’s important to have people in your life who help strengthen your sense of self. Everyone walks through seasons of life that are difficult and that might challenge their identity. One way to evaluate your relationships is to assess whether or not they affirm you and bring you back to a sense of self.
Growth Mentality
True relationships are more than good vibes and good times. One important thing to look for in your friendships is a growth mindset. Friends should challenge you and push you to grow. Do your friends ask you the tough questions? Do they push you to try new things, take risks or do the hard, internal work on yourself? When evaluating your relationships, assess whether learning and growth is a key part of your relationship.
Managing Conflict
Conflict is inevitable, especially in close relationships. Conflict management is also essential. One key way to assess your relationships is whether there’s a willingness to address conflict head on. If you can actively engage in a relationship and not avoid conflict, that might be a good indicator that the relationship is healthy.
Safety and Security
A clear red flag in a friendship is if you feel like you cannot be your true self. Take stock of your relationships and ask yourself, whether you can bring your full self to the table. In healthy relationships, you should be able to take off your mask and let your hair down.