What are the requirements of a healthy friendship?

In a world that’s more connected than ever, there’s a paradoxical rise in feelings of loneliness and disconnection.

Shasta Nelson, founder of GirlFriendCircles(dot)com, addresses this issue by introducing ‘Frientimacy’—the art of nurturing deep and meaningful friendships.

She identifies three key requirements for such friendships: positivity, consistency, and vulnerability.

Rising loneliness despite increased connectivity

Despite the advancements in technology that have made it easier for people to connect, there’s a rising sense of loneliness.

Many individuals feel unknown and lack a sense of intimacy in their relationships, leading to dissatisfaction.

Introducing ‘Frientimacy’

‘Frientimacy’, a term coined by Nelson, is about nurturing deep and meaningful friendships to combat loneliness.

It centres on feeling seen, understood, and valued in a safe and satisfying manner.

The three requirements of healthy friendships

Healthy friendships are built on three pillars: positivity, consistency, and vulnerability.

Positivity involves kindness, empathy, validation, and gratitude.

Consistency includes spending time together, creating rituals, and predictable behaviour.

Vulnerability is about sharing personal experiences, insecurities, successes, dreams, and emotions.