TED Talks Daily Sunday Pick: How to be a better friend (w/ Rhaina Cohen) | How to Be a Better Human
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Jul 20, 2025 
Rhaina Cohen, author of The Other Significant Others, shares her expertise on the profound value of platonic relationships. She discusses how prioritizing friendships can enhance emotional support and relieve pressures from romantic partners. Rhaina dives into the grief of losing a friend and offers advice on navigating social and political divides. She emphasizes the need to redefine friendship in adulthood and encourages listeners to cultivate deeper bonds, even when navigating romantic transitions.
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Friendship Fidelity Explained
- Friendship fidelity means caring in ways that anticipate friends' needs, not exclusivity like in romance.
- Good friends stick through both good times and conflict without running away.
Balance Expectations Between Relationships
- We expect too much of romantic partners and too little of friends, weakening both.
- Offloading some romantic expectations to friends can make relationships more realistic and fulfilling.
Expanding Definition of Friend
- Rhaina expanded her definition of friend through interviews with people who've formed family-like friendships.
- When faced with hardship, she reached out to different friends based on who best supported her needs, not defaulting to her spouse.
