SPEAKER_1: We all want to be happy, right?
SPEAKER_1: And I think it's easy to think, oh, if I just had a ton of friends, then I'd be happy.
SPEAKER_2: Yeah, I think that's something a lot of people assume.
SPEAKER_2: Big social circle, lots of friends, equal success and happiness, right?
SPEAKER_1: Exactly.
SPEAKER_1: But today, we're gonna deep dive into the idea of friendship inflation, and we're basing this on an article.
SPEAKER_1: It's called Friendship Inflation, Why Having Fewer Close Friends Makes You Mentally Stronger.
SPEAKER_2: Ooh, interesting.
SPEAKER_1: And we're gonna explore how maybe having fewer, more meaningful connections could actually be better for us.
SPEAKER_2: Okay, so maybe like a smaller circle of friends is actually a good thing.
SPEAKER_1: Yeah, that's what we're gonna get into.
SPEAKER_1: So it's like almost everybody thinks that having a big social circle means you're happy, you're successful.
SPEAKER_2: Yeah, totally.
SPEAKER_2: I mean, it's almost like, it's like, I don't know, it's just ingrained in us from a young age or something.
SPEAKER_1: Yeah, definitely.
SPEAKER_1: But research says this might be friendship inflation.
SPEAKER_2: Friendship inflation, I've never heard that term before.
SPEAKER_2: What does that even mean?
SPEAKER_1: Well, it's basically, it's like, you know, real friendships, true friendships, kind of get lost or diluted among just all these casual acquaintances.
SPEAKER_2: Ah, so it's like, the more friends you have, the less valuable each friendship becomes.
SPEAKER_1: Yeah, I think that's a good way to put it.
SPEAKER_1: So instead of worrying about having a ton of friends, maybe we should focus on the quality, not quantity.
SPEAKER_2: Focus on the quality, not the quantity.
SPEAKER_2: Okay, I like that.
SPEAKER_2: Less is more, maybe.
SPEAKER_1: Exactly.
SPEAKER_1: So a study came out in 2022 in the Journal of Social Psychology, and they found that people who have just two or three really close friends report much higher life satisfaction, compared to people who have ten or more casual friends.
SPEAKER_2: Wow, that's pretty significant.
SPEAKER_2: So having a smaller, tight-knit circle could actually be the key to genuine happiness.
SPEAKER_1: Yeah, and you know what's so wild about that?
SPEAKER_1: That totally goes against everything we're always told.
SPEAKER_1: It's like, we should be popular, we should have a ton of friends.
SPEAKER_1: Totally.
SPEAKER_2: It definitely goes against conventional wisdom.
SPEAKER_1: Yeah, and this actually aligns with a lot of research done by Dr.
SPEAKER_1: Robin Dunbar.
SPEAKER_1: He's an anthropologist.
SPEAKER_2: Oh, right.
SPEAKER_2: Yeah.
SPEAKER_1: And his research suggests that humans can only have around 150 meaningful relationships.
SPEAKER_2: Wow.
SPEAKER_1: Okay.
SPEAKER_1: Yeah, and then even less when it comes to close friends.
SPEAKER_1: Like 5 to 15 is kind of the magic number.
SPEAKER_2: Oh, wow.
SPEAKER_2: So even our brains have a limit on how many connections we can really handle.
SPEAKER_2: It makes you wonder, what happens when you try to have more than that?
SPEAKER_2: What happens when you try to go beyond that limit?
SPEAKER_1: I think that's a really good question, and that's what we're going to get into.
SPEAKER_1: You know, there could be some downsides to having a huge social circle, right?
SPEAKER_2: Yeah, I guess it makes sense if you think about it.
SPEAKER_2: Like, if you're constantly trying to keep up with, like, a ton of different people, it's got to be draining on some level.
SPEAKER_1: Right.
SPEAKER_1: Exactly.
SPEAKER_1: And there's been research about this.
SPEAKER_1: And specifically, there's a study that came out in 2023 that found that people who had over 20 active friendships had higher levels of cortisol.
SPEAKER_2: Cortisol.
SPEAKER_1: Yeah.
SPEAKER_1: And that's the stress hormone.
SPEAKER_2: Oh, wow.
SPEAKER_2: So all those group chats and social events, they could actually be making us more stressed.
SPEAKER_1: It's possible, yeah.
SPEAKER_1: And I think, you know, even thinking about it from a personal level, you can get burnt out, you know?
SPEAKER_1: It's like running a marathon without training.
SPEAKER_2: That's a great analogy.
SPEAKER_2: I totally get that.
SPEAKER_1: And it's not just stress, right?
SPEAKER_1: There's a researcher, Dr.
SPEAKER_1: Maya Phillips, at Stanford, and her research shows that people with larger social circles, they're more likely to feel inauthentic.
SPEAKER_2: Inauthentic.
SPEAKER_1: Yeah.
SPEAKER_1: And they're also more likely to have social anxiety.
SPEAKER_2: Oh, wow.
SPEAKER_2: So it's like we're sacrificing real connection for a bigger friend count.
SPEAKER_2: Like, we're trying to please everyone, but we end up not really being ourselves.
SPEAKER_1: Yeah, I think you hit the nail on the head.
SPEAKER_1: We might be putting on a performance instead of actually connecting with the people around us, you know?
SPEAKER_2: That's deep.
SPEAKER_2: I hadn't thought about it like that before.
SPEAKER_1: And then there's also this thing called decision fatigue.
SPEAKER_2: Decision fatigue.
SPEAKER_2: What's that?
SPEAKER_1: Well, you know how sometimes you just get overwhelmed with all the decisions you have to make every day, like what to eat, what to wear, you know, those little things?
SPEAKER_2: Yeah, totally.
SPEAKER_1: That's decision fatigue.
SPEAKER_1: And apparently, it can actually get worse when you have a lot of friends.
SPEAKER_2: Really?
SPEAKER_2: How does that work?
SPEAKER_1: Well, there was a study at UCLA in 2024 that showed that every time you add another social commitment, it increases decision fatigue by 12%.
SPEAKER_2: Wow, that's wild.
SPEAKER_2: So every invitation, every message, it's like it chips away at our energy, even if it's from a friend.
SPEAKER_1: Yeah, exactly.
SPEAKER_1: So now this is all starting to make sense, right?
SPEAKER_1: But we can't just like cut off all our friends.
SPEAKER_2: Right.
SPEAKER_2: That's not really a solution.
SPEAKER_1: No, there's got to be a better way to do this.
SPEAKER_2: There has to be.
SPEAKER_1: And luckily, this article we're talking about, they actually offer this tool called the Friendship Audit Workshop.
SPEAKER_2: Friendship Audit.
SPEAKER_2: Okay.
SPEAKER_2: I'm intrigued.
SPEAKER_2: What is that?
SPEAKER_1: Yeah, it's a three step process.
SPEAKER_1: And the first part is called relationship mapping.
SPEAKER_1: Don't worry, it's not as complicated as it sounds.
SPEAKER_2: Okay.
SPEAKER_2: Walk me through it.
SPEAKER_1: So, imagine you're drawing these circles on a piece of paper.
SPEAKER_1: And there's three of them.
SPEAKER_2: Three circles.
SPEAKER_2: Got it.
SPEAKER_1: The smallest one in the middle, that's your absolute closest connections, the people you can be vulnerable with.
SPEAKER_1: Okay.
SPEAKER_2: It makes sense.
SPEAKER_1: The middle circle, that's friends you really enjoy.
SPEAKER_1: You have fun with them, but you're not as close.
SPEAKER_2: Got it.
SPEAKER_1: And then that outer circle is for acquaintances, people you see sometimes or maybe just talk to online.
SPEAKER_2: Okay.
SPEAKER_2: So I'm picturing my own circles right now, and it's actually kind of interesting.
SPEAKER_2: I'm already realizing something.
SPEAKER_1: I know, right?
SPEAKER_1: Just picturing it, it makes you think.
SPEAKER_2: Yeah.
SPEAKER_2: So what's next?
SPEAKER_2: What do we do with these circles?
SPEAKER_1: So for the people in those inner two circles, you got to rate them on a few things.
SPEAKER_2: Rate them.
SPEAKER_2: Okay.
SPEAKER_2: Like a school report card for my friends.
SPEAKER_1: Kind of, yeah.
SPEAKER_1: But it's about understanding those relationships better.
SPEAKER_1: So first, you got to think about the energy.
SPEAKER_1: Is it balanced or are you the one always putting in more effort?
SPEAKER_2: That's a good point.
SPEAKER_1: Second thing is values.
SPEAKER_1: How well do your values line up with theirs?
SPEAKER_1: Third, think about how supportive they are when things are tough.
SPEAKER_1: Are they really there for you?
SPEAKER_2: Okay.
SPEAKER_2: Support, yeah, that's huge.
SPEAKER_1: Then the last one is how often you have those deep, meaningful conversations, not just small talk.
SPEAKER_2: It's like a performance review for my friendships.
SPEAKER_1: That's one way to look at it.
SPEAKER_1: But really, it's just about figuring out what's working and what's not, and then taking action from there.
SPEAKER_2: Okay.
SPEAKER_2: I'm starting to get it.
SPEAKER_2: I've done the mapping, I've done my assessments, what's next?
SPEAKER_1: That's where the action plan comes in, and that's what we're going to talk about in the next part of our deep dive.
SPEAKER_1: We spent some time mapping out our social circles, doing that friendship audit.
SPEAKER_2: Yeah, definitely.
SPEAKER_2: Maybe realizing we don't actually need a ton of friends to be happy.
SPEAKER_1: Exactly.
SPEAKER_1: Quality over quantity, right?
SPEAKER_1: So now, what do we actually do with that?
SPEAKER_2: Right.
SPEAKER_2: How do we take all those insights and actually turn them into action?
SPEAKER_2: How do we strengthen those core friendships, the ones that really matter?
SPEAKER_1: Exactly.
SPEAKER_1: Yeah.
SPEAKER_1: The article talks about this thing called the 321 Method, and it was developed by Dr.
SPEAKER_1: Sarah Martinez, a relationship psychologist.
SPEAKER_2: 321 Method.
SPEAKER_2: What is that?
SPEAKER_2: Some kind of secret code for amazing friendships.
SPEAKER_1: Uh-huh.
SPEAKER_1: Not exactly a secret code, but it's a good way to think about it.
SPEAKER_1: So the 3-code stands for spending at least 3 hours a month of quality time with each close friend.
SPEAKER_1: Hmm.
SPEAKER_2: 3 hours a month?
SPEAKER_2: That doesn't seem too bad, actually.
SPEAKER_2: Like, it could be a long coffee date or something.
SPEAKER_1: Totally.
SPEAKER_1: Or like a hike, or even just hanging out at home, you know, without distractions.
SPEAKER_2: Right.
SPEAKER_2: Just being present.
SPEAKER_2: So that's the 3.
SPEAKER_2: What are the 2 and the 1?
SPEAKER_2: What do those stand for?
SPEAKER_1: So, the 2 is for having 2 meaningful check ins with each friend every week.
SPEAKER_2: Oh, okay.
SPEAKER_2: So, it could be like a quick phone call or even just a text, right?
SPEAKER_1: Just something to show them you're thinking about them.
SPEAKER_2: I like that.
SPEAKER_2: It's those little things that can make a big difference.
SPEAKER_1: Totally.
SPEAKER_1: And then the 1, that's for having at least one deep vulnerable conversation with each friend each month.
SPEAKER_2: Vulnerable conversation.
SPEAKER_2: Ooh, that can be a little scary sometimes.
SPEAKER_1: Yeah, I know what you mean, but it's also where the real connection happens.
SPEAKER_2: True, true.
SPEAKER_2: But how do you even start a conversation like that?
SPEAKER_1: Well, the article suggests starting small, you know, maybe share a personal challenge or something you've been thinking about lately.
SPEAKER_2: Okay, yeah, baby steps.
SPEAKER_1: Exactly.
SPEAKER_1: I really think that this 3-2-1 method could be a game changer, you know, instead of spreading ourselves thin, we're focusing on those relationships that really matter.
SPEAKER_2: I agree, it's a great way to prioritize.
SPEAKER_2: And actually, speaking of prioritizing friendships, this article mentions a really cool example.
SPEAKER_2: Have you heard of The Thursday Club?
SPEAKER_1: The Thursday Club?
SPEAKER_1: No, what is that, like a secret society or something?
SPEAKER_2: Uh-huh, not a secret society, but it's kind of like a ritual.
SPEAKER_2: So there's this group of four friends in Seattle, and they decided to have dinner together every Thursday night.
SPEAKER_1: Every Thursday?
SPEAKER_1: Wow, that's commitment.
SPEAKER_2: Right, and they have these three rules they always follow.
SPEAKER_1: Okay, I'm curious, what are the rules?
SPEAKER_2: Rule number one, no phones at the table.
SPEAKER_1: Oh, I love that, put those phones away.
SPEAKER_2: Right, be present.
SPEAKER_2: Rule number two, they pick one topic to discuss each week, like something that really sparks a deep conversation.
SPEAKER_1: Oh, that's interesting, so it's not just surface level chit chat, they're really getting into it.
SPEAKER_2: Exactly, and then the third rule is everything they talk about is confidential.
SPEAKER_1: Oh, that makes sense, you need to feel safe to open up.
SPEAKER_2: Right, and apparently, after doing this for a year, they all said they felt way more connected and supported.
SPEAKER_1: That's amazing, it shows how powerful something simple like that can be.
SPEAKER_2: Totally, and beyond the 321 method and The Thursday Club, the article goes into some other techniques that are a little more, well, advanced, I guess.
SPEAKER_1: Advanced techniques, okay, I'm listening.
SPEAKER_2: One of them is the depth first approach.
SPEAKER_1: Depth first approach, sounds intense.
SPEAKER_2: It's basically about like really going deep with those conversations, you know?
SPEAKER_2: Yeah, moving beyond the small talk.
SPEAKER_1: Okay, I like that.
SPEAKER_1: So how do you do it?
SPEAKER_2: Well, one way is to schedule these life updates with your close friends, like once a month or something.
SPEAKER_1: Life update sessions, what are those like?
SPEAKER_2: It's basically a dedicated time to talk about the big things that are going on in each other's lives, you know?
SPEAKER_2: Career stuff, personal challenges, dreams, goals, that kind of thing.
SPEAKER_1: Oh, I see, yeah.
SPEAKER_1: It's so easy to get caught up in the day to day and forget to talk about the bigger things.
SPEAKER_2: Right, and the Depth First approach also talks a lot about active listening.
SPEAKER_1: Active listening, yeah.
SPEAKER_1: That's important for any kind of relationship, right?
SPEAKER_2: Totally.
SPEAKER_2: But it's easy to forget sometimes.
SPEAKER_2: Like, are you really paying attention when your friend is talking or are you, you know, thinking about other things?
SPEAKER_1: Right, you gotta be present.
SPEAKER_2: Exactly, and there's this thing called the FORD method that can help with that.
SPEAKER_1: FORD method, never heard of it.
SPEAKER_2: It stands for Family, Occupation, Recreation and Dreams.
SPEAKER_1: Oh, okay, so it's like a framework for having deeper conversations, right?
SPEAKER_2: Yeah, exactly.
SPEAKER_2: It can help you get to know your friends on a whole new level.
SPEAKER_1: I love the depth-first approach.
SPEAKER_1: I think it's a great way to build stronger, more fulfilling connections.
SPEAKER_1: And it makes me think, you know, friendships are like any other relationship.
SPEAKER_1: They take work.
SPEAKER_2: They do.
SPEAKER_2: And speaking of putting in the work, another technique in the article is the boundary setting framework.
SPEAKER_1: Boundaries.
SPEAKER_1: Ooh, yeah, this can be tricky.
SPEAKER_2: They can.
SPEAKER_2: But they're super important, especially in friendships.
SPEAKER_2: This framework is about setting clear guidelines for how you interact with your friends.
SPEAKER_1: Okay, so give me some examples.
SPEAKER_1: What kind of guidelines are we talking about?
SPEAKER_2: For example, think about response times to messages.
SPEAKER_2: Do you need to reply right away?
SPEAKER_2: Or is it okay to take a few hours or a day?
SPEAKER_1: Oh, that's a good one.
SPEAKER_1: Everyone has different expectations for communication.
SPEAKER_2: Right.
SPEAKER_2: And what about social commitments?
SPEAKER_2: Like, how often are you comfortable going to events?
SPEAKER_2: And what kind of events are you actually excited about?
SPEAKER_1: Yeah, it's okay to say no sometimes, right?
SPEAKER_1: Even to your friends.
SPEAKER_2: Absolutely.
SPEAKER_2: And another one is emotional energy.
SPEAKER_2: How much are you willing to give and what are your limits?
SPEAKER_1: That's a big one.
SPEAKER_1: It's important to protect your own well-being.
SPEAKER_2: Exactly.
SPEAKER_2: And then there's boundaries around social media, which I think we can all relate to.
SPEAKER_1: Oh yeah, social media can be a minefield when it comes to friendships.
SPEAKER_2: For sure.
SPEAKER_2: Think about, you know, how much time you spend on there and if it's actually making you feel good.
SPEAKER_1: Right.
SPEAKER_1: It's so easy to compare yourself to others or feel pressure to be someone you're not.
SPEAKER_2: Exactly.
SPEAKER_1: Okay, so we've got the 321 method, The Thursday Club, Depth First Approach, and Boundary Setting.
SPEAKER_1: What's the last technique?
SPEAKER_2: The last one is the Conflict Resolution Protocol.
SPEAKER_2: It's all about having a plan for when disagreements happen, because let's face it, they happen in every relationship.
SPEAKER_1: Oh yeah, for sure.
SPEAKER_1: Even with our closest friends.
SPEAKER_2: Right.
SPEAKER_2: So the idea is to have a way to handle those conflicts so they don't turn into something bigger.
SPEAKER_1: So how do you actually do that?
SPEAKER_1: How do you build a Conflict Resolution Protocol?
SPEAKER_2: Well, the first thing is to address those little misunderstandings quickly, you know, before they turn into something bigger.
SPEAKER_1: Like don't let things fester.
SPEAKER_2: Exactly.
SPEAKER_2: And another part is having regular friendship check-ins, like a State of the Union.
SPEAKER_1: Oh, I like that.
SPEAKER_1: So just taking some time to see how the friendship is doing, what's working, what's not.
SPEAKER_2: Exactly.
SPEAKER_2: And it's a good time to talk about, you know, what each person needs from the friendship.
SPEAKER_1: Yeah, those open and honest conversations are so important.
SPEAKER_2: They are.
SPEAKER_2: And sometimes, you know, friendships just naturally grow apart, and that's okay, too.
SPEAKER_1: Yeah, sometimes people just change and grow in different directions.
SPEAKER_2: Right.
SPEAKER_2: And this protocol helps you navigate that in a healthy way.
SPEAKER_1: OK, these are some really powerful techniques.
SPEAKER_1: But like, is there actually any science to back this up?
SPEAKER_1: You know, is there evidence that these deeper connections are actually good for us?
SPEAKER_2: There is.
SPEAKER_2: There was a study done by Harvard Medical School in 2023, and it showed that strong social connections can have a huge impact on our well-being.
SPEAKER_1: OK, I'm all yours.
SPEAKER_1: Tell me about it.
SPEAKER_2: So first of all, they found that close relationships can increase oxytocin production by 47 percent.
SPEAKER_1: Wait, oxytocin, that's the love hormone, right?
SPEAKER_2: Yeah.
SPEAKER_2: So basically, spending time with our close friends makes us feel more loved and connected.
SPEAKER_1: That's awesome.
SPEAKER_1: But wait, there's more, right?
SPEAKER_2: There is.
SPEAKER_2: They also found that strong social bonds can reduce inflammatory markers by 32 percent.
SPEAKER_1: So that means our friendships are good for our physical health, too.
SPEAKER_2: Exactly.
SPEAKER_2: And they found that those close connections also boosted immune function by 29 percent.
SPEAKER_1: Wow.
SPEAKER_1: So hanging out with our friends could actually help us fight off colds and stuff?
SPEAKER_2: It's possible.
SPEAKER_2: And maybe most importantly, they found that people with strong social support had a 51 percent lower risk of depression.
SPEAKER_1: That's incredible.
SPEAKER_1: It sounds like close friendships are like a super power or something.
SPEAKER_2: I know, right?
SPEAKER_2: This research really shows how powerful genuine connection can be.
SPEAKER_1: Okay.
SPEAKER_1: I'm convinced.
SPEAKER_1: Fewer friends, deeper connections.
SPEAKER_1: It's not just some like feel good idea.
SPEAKER_1: It's backed by science.
SPEAKER_2: Exactly.
SPEAKER_2: And the best part is that it's something we can all work towards.
SPEAKER_2: It's about making those small, consistent efforts to build those meaningful relationships.
SPEAKER_1: We've got a whole new playbook for friendships.
SPEAKER_2: And you don't need to be a relationship expert to use it.
SPEAKER_1: Exactly.
SPEAKER_1: So as we finish up this part of our deep dive, let's zoom out a little bit and think about the bigger picture.
SPEAKER_1: Like, why are we even dealing with this friendship inflation in the first place?
SPEAKER_1: So we've talked about all these great techniques for making our friendship stronger.
SPEAKER_1: But I'm wondering, why do we even have this friendship inflation thing in the first place?
SPEAKER_2: Yeah, that's a good question.
SPEAKER_2: It's like, why do we feel this pressure to have so many friends?
SPEAKER_1: Exactly.
SPEAKER_1: Like, where did that come from?
SPEAKER_2: Well, I think social media has a lot to do with it.
SPEAKER_2: You know, you're scrolling through and everyone looks like they have a million friends and they're always having fun.
SPEAKER_1: It's like that highlight reel, right?
SPEAKER_1: You're only seeing the best parts of people's lives.
SPEAKER_2: Exactly.
SPEAKER_2: And then, you know, there's FOMO, the fear of missing out.
SPEAKER_1: Oh, yeah, FOMO is real.
SPEAKER_2: It makes you feel like you have to say yes to everything, go to every party, be friends with everyone.
SPEAKER_1: Just to keep up.
SPEAKER_1: Right.
SPEAKER_2: Right.
SPEAKER_2: And it can be exhausting.
SPEAKER_2: Like, who has the time and energy for all that?
SPEAKER_1: And I think it takes away from those deeper connections, you know?
SPEAKER_1: The ones that really matter.
SPEAKER_2: Totally.
SPEAKER_2: It's like we're spreading ourselves too thin.
SPEAKER_1: And it's not just social media, right?
SPEAKER_1: Like, life is just so busy these days.
SPEAKER_2: Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_2: We're all juggling work, family, you know, a million things.
SPEAKER_2: It's hard to make time for friends.
SPEAKER_1: It feels like friendship gets pushed to the bottom of the to-do list sometimes.
SPEAKER_2: I think that happens to a lot of people.
SPEAKER_2: And then, you know, those friendships end up being more superficial.
SPEAKER_1: Yeah.
SPEAKER_1: It's like you're just catching up, not really connecting.
SPEAKER_2: Exactly.
SPEAKER_2: But the thing is, building those meaningful friendships takes time.
SPEAKER_1: It does.
SPEAKER_1: It takes effort, too, just like any other important relationship.
SPEAKER_2: Right.
SPEAKER_2: So, you know, what can we do about all this?
SPEAKER_2: Like, how do we navigate this whole friendship thing and make sure we're actually building those connections that we want?
SPEAKER_1: That's the million dollar question.
SPEAKER_2: Well, I think it starts with just being aware of it.
SPEAKER_2: You know, realizing that these pressures exist.
SPEAKER_1: Yeah, that's step one.
SPEAKER_2: And then, once you're aware of it, you can start making choices about like, where you're putting your energy.
SPEAKER_1: Okay, so it's about being intentional with our time and who we spend it with.
SPEAKER_2: Exactly.
SPEAKER_2: It's okay to say no to things.
SPEAKER_2: It's okay to focus on a smaller group of friends.
SPEAKER_1: Yeah, it's about quality, not quantity.
SPEAKER_1: We've been saying that all along.
SPEAKER_2: Right.
SPEAKER_2: And I think it's also important to, like, check in with yourself.
SPEAKER_2: Ask yourself, what kind of social life do I actually want?
SPEAKER_1: Yeah, instead of just trying to keep up with everyone else.
SPEAKER_1: Right.
SPEAKER_2: What makes you happy?
SPEAKER_2: What makes you feel good?
SPEAKER_1: I love that.
SPEAKER_1: It's about figuring out what works for you.
SPEAKER_2: Exactly.
SPEAKER_2: And remember, you know, it's a journey.
SPEAKER_2: It takes time to build these friendships.
SPEAKER_1: Yeah, it's not going to happen overnight.
SPEAKER_2: But even small steps can make a difference.
SPEAKER_1: Well, I want to thank you for coming on the show and sharing all this great information with us.
SPEAKER_2: You have my pleasure.
SPEAKER_1: I think we've all learned a lot about, you know, the importance of those deeper connections and how to actually build them.
SPEAKER_2: I hope so.
SPEAKER_1: So, to all our listeners out there, take some time to think about your own friendships.
SPEAKER_1: You know, maybe try out some of the techniques we talked about today.
SPEAKER_2: Yeah, even just one small change can make a big difference.
SPEAKER_1: Absolutely.
SPEAKER_1: And remember, connection is important, you know.
SPEAKER_1: It's good for our mental health, our physical health, everything.
SPEAKER_2: Connection is what makes life meaningful.
SPEAKER_1: Right, exactly.
SPEAKER_1: So go out there, connect with the people you care about, and thanks for joining us for this deep dive into the world of friendship.