The Healing Power of Friendship
Friendship is the Antidote to Isolation

One of the greatest challenges in our busy lives is maintaining relationships with our friends, let alone making new friends. Women’s demanding schedules often leave little time for the seemingly “unproductive” moments spent in the company of a dear friend. And many find that the freedom of telecommuting and freelancing or the demands of our corporate world carry a shadow side: isolation.

Good friends hold us through deaths, graduations, marriages, holidays, suicides, and divorces. They lift us when we sink and celebrate when we soar. We must find creative ways to nurture these powerful bonds.

Studies show that isolation decreases immune functioning and increases mortality risk; cancer survivors with supportive friends have been shown to have twice the survival rate of control groups. Close friendships are strong indicators of mental, physical and spiritual health. So cultivating the art of friendship is not a luxury, but is essential to work-life balance and health.

Solutions for Isolation:

• Prioritize time with friends. Give them the same importance as a business meeting or doctor’s appointment.

• Block out time on your calendar to e-mail, call, or send a hand-written note to someone you love at least twice a week.

• Share a meal with a friend at least twice a month.

• Exercise, study, or meditate together.

• Coordinate a conference call with a group of old friends once a month.

• Expand your concept of friendship to include women from all age groups and all walks of life—each has unique gifts.

Commit today to exploring the restorative power of friendship.