CREATING A BETTER YEAR IN FRIENDSHIPS

Hello Friends and Welcome 2023!

I’m so ready for the new year, anyone else!? 2022 was a year with a lot of change and unpredictability, and maybe every year is like that but this one I felt on a deeper level. In construction, things often get really messy before the rebuilding can happen.  I feel like 2022 I was wearing my hardhat and it was a year of tearing things apart so that I can start to lay the foundation for bigger and better things.

How were your friendships in 2022? Did you connect with the people you wanted to? Did you make any new connections? January is a new opportunity, it feels like a time where you can create whatever you want. What do you want your friendships to look like in 2023?

Here is a guide to support you in deciding what your future friendships can look like…

Pitfalls

Take a few minutes to reflect on your current friendships. Make a list of all the things you want LESS of in your friendships. What causes you stress, anxiety, disappointment or maybe even anger? Are these friendships working for you? What would you like to change? Sometimes a friendship needs to end to make room for the healthy ones to have room to grow.

Desires

Now that you have looked at what you want less of, what do you want MORE of in your friendships? More time together, deeper connections, more laughter, new adventures? You are the creator of your friendships, it is up to you to be the kind of friend that you most want to have. If you want more conversations, can you call more often? If you want to spend more time together, are you willing to extend the invitation? What you desire in friendships is possible, when you name it and do the work to create it.

Goals

Have you set any goals for your friendships? Just like in anything else, if we do not create goals for growth, it won’t happen. Are you actively pursuing stronger, deeper and more meaningful friendships in your life? It’s time to set some goals to hold yourself accountable for the kinds of friendships you want in your life. Write down at least 3 friendship goals for this year.

Benchmarks

How will you know when you have achieved your goals? What will increase in your life as a result of working on your friendship goals? Having clear benchmarks will support you in knowing if what you are doing is working. Are you happier, do you have things to look forward to, are you motivated to keep going? Changes will happen slowly sometimes, having benchmarks will allow you to see the progress and keep moving towards your goals.

Here’s to a 2023 full of the kinds of Friendships that bring you happiness, connection and peace!

In Friendship,

Sheri