Ever found yourself in a friendship that feels more like a one-way street? Unbalanced relationships can be draining and detrimental to your wellbeing. Let's delve into understanding lopsided friendships and explore effective strategies to handle them.
As we juggle the demands of this ongoing pandemic, friendships have shifted in all sorts of unexpected ways
Many people now seem to have less stamina for socializing, and some people prefer keeping it that way
- Having a lopsided friendship doesn’t necessarily mean it is unhealthy or toxic
- It’s only a problem if someone is feeling negative emotions about the pattern
- Resist the urge to make assumptions
- We live longer if we feel connected and supported
- When someone expresses that they’re perhaps not as interested in being friends with us or they need a break or whatever, that can trigger an innate fear of being alone or not valued
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Challenge these beliefs
Invite, don’t accuse
- The best time to address the issue is when you begin feeling distance or imbalance in the relationship
- Identify what you want more or less of and then verbalize it
- Let them know you are reaching out out of a desire for their company
- Be flexible
If you can’t prioritize your friendships, be upfront about it
Set boundaries around your time and energy even if you technically could hang out with this person more often
- When Jackson was pregnant, she messaged her friends to let them know her availability was shifting but she’ll be back soon
- She communicated that she appreciated the heads-up and valued their bond
