Episode 14: Top Friendship Expert, Miriam Kirmayer, Shares the Secret to Making Friends as an Adult, How You Know it’s Time to Break Up, and What a Healthy Friendship Looks Like
Struggling to make friends in a new city? Wondering how to set healthy boundaries in your friendships as you go through life changes? Unsure of how to go about breaking up with a friend? This week on The Everygirl Podcast, Dr. Miriam Kirmayer answers all of these questions and more, as she, Alaina, and Josie discuss the ins and outs of friendships as an adult. Dr. Kirmayer explains everything from what makes certain people click as friends to keeping in touch with friends from earlier stages of our lives. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to ensure that their friendships are fulfilling and healthy.
Check out Dr. Kirmayer’s website here.
SHOW NOTES:
This week on The Everygirl Podcast, Josie and Alaina interview clinical psychologist and friendship expert Dr. Miriam Kirmayer all about adult friendships. The episode begins with Josie asking Dr. Kirmayer what she refers to as the "million dollar question": how do you make friends as an adult? Dr. Kirmayer gives her best tips for putting yourself out there and connecting with people who share similar interests and values. She then shares a bit about "friendship chemistry" and keeping an open mind as you enter new friendships. Dr. Kirmayer and Josie have a discussion about the pressure that comes along with making new friends, and how important it is to be present and interested when we are interacting with friends, new and old. The conversation then switches gears, and Alaina asks Dr. Kirmayer about remaining friends with people who are in different life stages. Dr. Kirmayer explains the importance of opening up a dialogue with friends before big life changes occur, and managing expectations for how your friendship might evolve. Alaina asks Dr. Kirmayer about the isolating feeling of being the first or the last in a friend group to go through a major life event. You'll hear Dr. Kirmayer discuss the importance of setting boundaries in friendships, which segues into a conversation about how to know when it might be time to set an ultimate boundary of a friendship breakup. She emphasizes how crucial it is to check in with ourselves about how we feel when we are with our friends. The episode closes with a discussion of how friendship is an ongoing journey throughout your life.
Must-Listen Moments:
[2:39] The million-dollar question: what is the best way to make new friends as an adult?
[23:07] Managing friendship expectations through big life changes
[31:22] Setting healthy boundaries in friendships
[47:19] How to know when it’s time to break up with a friend
[59:30] What to do when you are not a fan of your friend’s significant other
More from The Everygirl:
Find and listen to more episodes at https://theeverygirl.com/