Men & Friendship: Developing Healthy Relationships With Someone Other Than Your Significant Other

2015-01-26 20:01:57 CPCC Blogging Team

Do You Have The Friendship You Need For A Healthy Life?

Even in today’s modern age where we have made so much progress towards gender equality, there are still marked differences between women and men. As we aim to be our healthiest, most whole selves, it can be valuable to take a look at these gendered practices and how they might be negatively affecting our communities. Today, let’s take a look at the way men are taught to engage in friendships.

While women are encouraged to be social and always expand their network of friends, men are pushed towards embodying independence. This lack of close friends does not just mean that men are forced to undergo life’s trials in isolation it is also physically unhealthy. Studies have indicated that being socially isolated can be as bad for you as smoking.

Lacking a network of people for support can also force men to lean too heavily on their significant others, creating an unhealthy level of dependence. So you can maintain a healthy balance with your significant other, make sure you are still engaging in individual pursuits and allow yourself to make decisions independently. This will help you maintain intimacy, or a healthy closeness, with your significant other without losing your individuality.

Even as you find a healthy balance with your significant other, you should work towards building your network of friends. Work actively against any gendered practices that keep you in isolation. You can and should have a network of male friends to lean on in good times and bad. Open yourself up to friendship; your health and significant other will thank you.

We hope these words will encourage you to banish the fear of finding meaningful relationships and yield fruitful friendships for you. For more advice on building meaningful relationships, contact Community Presbyterian Counseling Center in San Ramon, California.

Men