Making Friends in Adulthood: Tips from a Friendship Expert

Friendship in adulthood should not be expected to happen organically like it did in childhood. To make friends, repeated unplanned interaction and shared vulnerability are important. This can happen through work or other activities where people spend time together over a period of time and have their guard down. It is crucial to understand that friendship in adulthood requires effort and intentionality. People who believe that friendship should happen without effort tend to feel more lonely over time, while those who recognize the need for effort are less lonely and more likely to make that effort. Therefore, one should actively participate in places of worship, hobbies, or interest groups to increase the chances of finding friends.