I Ranked All My Friendships. The Results Were Disturbing.

I decided to rank all my friendships, which might sound like a strange thing to do, but I wanted to understand the dynamics of my relationships better. I started by making a list of all my friends and then began to evaluate each friendship based on how often we communicate, how much we support each other, and how deep our conversations are.

As I delved deeper into this exercise, I realized that some friendships were more superficial than I had thought. There were friends I hadn’t spoken to in months, yet I still considered them close. On the other hand, there were friends with whom I regularly shared my thoughts and feelings, and they did the same with me. These friendships felt more substantial and meaningful.

What was disturbing was realizing that I was often on the edge of many friendships. I was the one reaching out more frequently, and when I didn’t, the communication would dwindle. It made me wonder if these friendships were truly mutual or if I was just holding onto them out of habit or obligation.

Another insight I gained was the importance of having strong, supportive friendships. Research has shown that women, in particular, benefit from having a close-knit group of female friends. These friendships can provide a network of support and advice, helping navigate life’s challenges. I realized that my own friendships with women were some of the most valuable, as we could share experiences and offer each other guidance in ways that felt unique and empowering.

Reflecting on my friendships also made me think about how I could improve them. I started to prioritize the relationships that felt most meaningful and began to nurture those connections more intentionally. It wasn’t about cutting ties with others but about focusing on the friendships that truly enriched my life.

This exercise taught me a lot about myself and my relationships. It showed me that friendships, like any other relationship, require effort and attention to grow. By acknowledging the dynamics of my friendships, I could work towards building stronger, more fulfilling connections with the people around me.