So I told you last week that there was a flipside to the “true friends” message… well here it is – Summertime is the perfect time to make new friends!
I know, I know, that sounds completely opposite of what I said last week; what I mean is that it’s the perfect time to evaluate your current friends and consider the possibility that you may have “outgrown” each other.
Trust me, I know from experience, this is the hardest thing to do. Realizing that you aren’t into the same things as your best friend anymore.
But this is the most important part – realizing it.
If you don’t evaluate this you are robbing yourself and your friends of honesty and of peace.
If you don’t really know what I mean by this let me lay out some “symptoms” of an outgrown friendship:
1. You feel like you had better hang out sometime soon because it’s been awhile. However, you don’t really want to but feel like you should.
2. You find yourself being surprised by things your friend is doing, saying, or interested in. They are not acting like the person you used to know.
3. When you want to hang out and have a fun day with someone you either (a) think of this friend first to call and then think “naah it wouldn’t actually be as fun as I would hope” or (b) don’t even consider them until after you have made the plans with another friend.
Even if they aren’t doing anything drastic or morally different; if its just that your interests have changed, that is a sound reason to consider change as well.
Trust me it’s okay to have friends that pass out of your life.
My mom has always told me that we have different friends for different times in our lives.
I think that is one of the truest things I have ever heard and experienced in my own life.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not easy – but it is worth it. Especially if these current friends are going down a path that you do not want to follow.
This is the most important thing to remember: Just because you have been loyal friends for X amount of time does not mean that your loyalty should stretch into compromising your morals.
What I mean by that is that if your friend is changing the things they are doing and the people they are hanging with – you don’t have to follow them and change your ways as well.
This is where your road splits and that’s okay.
This summer is the perfect time to hang out in different circles of friends and find where you fit in and the people you enjoy spending time with – as well as who likes the things you like.
So take some time, be brave, and make a change that is difficult but so very important and, in the end, peaceful.
~ Mikayla ✿
A little inspiration for your change
We can all use inspiration and relaxation at the same time so here are some of my favorite quotes in the form of printable coloring pages!
- No one can make you feel inferior without your consent – Eleanor Roosevelt
- Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you – Dr. Seuss
- Why fit in when you were born to stand out – Dr. Seuss
- It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are – E. E. Cummings
Check back here again next Thursday to read my third and final post for this month as I talk about the truest friendship of all! Then, as we dive into August, we will hear from our next team member, Caitlin!
~~ Comment or email on this post if you have questions, just need a listening ear, or advice on your friendships~~
