Love & Connection
Making new friends.
Making New Friends
The nature of making new friends means… that you have to do something new to find them.
Doing the same thing and expecting a different result – well it’s as mad as Einstein said.
Some things will pay off – others won’t – but it will all be valuable.
Tempting as it is to use the online space for meeting new people, if real-world friends are what you want – you can use it – but you do need to get out there.
Often we collect friends in stages of our lives that we outgrow.
It’s easier to make friends at the same school gate you’ve always stood by, but when they get older and make their own way, often we can lose some of those friends as they do different things with their lives.
So here are some ideas, if you want to meet new people.
Groups, Classes or clubs.
Book groups, dinner clubs, netball teams, Womens’ Institute are all great sources of connections.
You’ll have a ready-made topic of conversation and many of these groups are super welcoming, particularly for newbies.
Volunteering
A triple win – you’re helping a good cause, meeting new people and feeling great about yourself.
You get new opportunities and they will often upskill you in things you had never considered.
Say Yes
It may seem like an obvious one, but looking out for opportunities to join in is something that we can be shy of.
If you see an event, party, or local get-together organised – be brave and go – it’s usually a great opportunity for meeting lots of people, some of whom you’ll hit it off with.
Reach out to acquaintances
You’ll be surprised how many people you ‘kind of know’ would be up for meeting for a coffee or seeing a film together.
Be proactive and see how many people you can invite somewhere – and don’t be disheartened if it takes a few goes.
Lots of people are shy, and if you get some nos – it’s unlikely to be about you.
Looking online for ‘what’s on in my area’ can give you real-life opportunities for fun things to do in person.
And if you possibly can, call (with a real phone) to find out more, speak to a real human, and get the ball rolling!
Question
Can you set a target of meeting new friends each month?
What could you put in the diary to do – to keep expanding your network of fabulous humans?