Happy Easter to everyone who celebrates today! Wishing everyone a wonderful Sunday. 💐

Women’s friendships are vital to our well-being. This longer #SundayReset focuses on building meaningful connections, a constant theme in my client work and conversations with other women. Whether seeking guidance on being a good friend 🤝 or connecting within community, we’re all navigating this. Building true connection, while prioritizing our mental well-being🧘‍♀️, doesn’t need to be precarious; it grows from self-trust and the confidence to forge meaningful friendships.

Following up on last week’s discussion about mindful self-care 🌿, I want to explore another vital aspect of our well-being: the friendships we cultivate 💞. As professional women, mothers, caregivers, and entrepreneurs, we pour so much into our work and the people around us. But who is pouring into us? This Sunday, let’s reflect on what it means to be a true friend, what we should expect in return, what we should bring to the table, and the crucial courage it takes to build meaningful connections and authentic friendships.

🌷 Qualities of a True Friend: What to Look For

We’ve all heard the saying, “A friend in need is a friend indeed.” But what does that really look like? It’s more than just someone to grab coffee with ☕ or vent to occasionally. Based on my conversations with clients and the many people I connect with daily, here are some key qualities of a true friend:

• 💗 Unconditional Support: They’re there for you, no matter what.
• 🤫 Trust and Honesty: You can confide in them without fear.
• 🧱 Loyalty and Dependability: They show up and keep their promises.
• 💞 Empathy and Understanding: They try to see things from your perspective.
• 🌈 Acceptance: They appreciate you for who you are.
• 👂🏾 Good Listener: They actively listen and validate your feelings.

Now that we’ve explored what to look for in a friend, let’s turn the mirror inward

💡 Being a Good Friend: How to Show Up Authentically

Now, let’s turn the mirror inward 🪞. We’ve talked about what to look for in a true friend, but genuine connection is a two-way street. What do you bring to the table? How do you show up as a friend? This is crucial for maintaining friendships and building friendships.

• 🎯 Be Present and Engaged
• 🌻 Offer Support Proactively
• ⏰ Practice Reliability
• 💬 Communicate Openly and Honestly
• 🫶🏽 Show Empathy and Validation
• 🚪 Respect Boundaries
• 📣 Be a Cheerleader
• 💛 Forgive and Be Understanding
• 📆 Invest Time and Effort
• 🧡 Be Yourself

💔 The Pervasive Issue of Lost Women’s Friendships

Through my conversations with clients and others, it’s clear that the issue of true friendship has become a pervasive problem for many women—regardless of life stage or career level. Interestingly, it seems that as women acquire more—financial success 💼, career achievements 🌟, or external validation—they may be less likely to have deep, authentic friendships. As parents, we must be cautious. I mentor teenage girls, and the walls we put up in our lives often show up in theirs too. I hear the same stories from the teenagers that I hear from the adults about the challenges of women’s friendships.

🛑 Isolation’s Impact on Building Women’s Connections

This topic is so important that I’m even considering addressing it on a podcast 🎙️—a rare thing for me! Many women have retreated into “safe zones” to protect themselves from hurt. But isolation, especially post-COVID, has made it harder to connect and build friendships. Depending on where you live, the impact may be even deeper 🏡. Overcoming isolation is key to well-being.

🧠 The Courage to Trust and Build Meaningful Friendships

The answer isn’t to stay isolated. It lies in trusting yourself. Have confidence in your ability to discern genuine connection, to be a true friend, and to cultivate those vital relationships. It takes vulnerability and courage💪, but the rewards are immeasurable in terms of meaningful connections.

🕊️ Navigating Friendship Betrayal: A Reminder for Women

Last week, I spoke with an old acquaintance about a betrayal in friendship. We’ve all been there—some as the one hurt, and some as the one who hurt. It’s painful 💔, but it can be a powerful learning moment. It reminds us to choose wisely, to set healthy boundaries, and to be mindful of our own actions in our friendships.

🎭 Overcoming the “Imposter Friend” Syndrome in Friendships

Ever felt like you don’t belong in a friendship or group? Like you’re not good enough, and someone might ‘find out’ you’re a fraud? This feeling, which I like to refer to as “Imposter Friendship,” mirrors the well-known imposter syndrome And according to Verywell Mind, about 70% of people will feel this at least once, impacting their authentic friendships. If this is you:

• 🤍 Acknowledge your feelings
• 🧠 Challenge your thoughts
• 🤝 Focus on others
• 💬 Be authentic
• 📢 Communicate
• 🛁 Practice self-care

💕 The Importance of Self-Care and Women’s Friendships

Just like self-care is essential to avoid burnout, nurturing friendships is just as crucial 🌟. They provide joy, strength, and a deep sense of belonging. Washington Psychological Wellness even notes that close friendships can boost your physical health too 🧬. This highlights the importance of maintaining friendships alongside self-care.

🔍 Reflecting on Your Women’s Friendships

• Who are the true friends in your life?
• What qualities do you value most in a friend?
• Have you ever felt like an “imposter friend?”
• How do you show up as a friend?
• How has the retreat to “safe zones” impacted your relationships and ability to build friendships?
• What small step can you take this week to build trust in yourself and connect more authentically in your women’s friendships?

📣Let’s Talk About Building Stronger Women’s Friendships

If this is an issue that you’re struggling with, let’s have a conversation about it grab your favorite Lady’z Lounge Coffee Mug and register for the SundayReset: Free Virtual Coffee Chat for Women. Remember a portion of all sells are donated to a women’s charity.

• 💬 If you’re craving deeper support, the SundayReset: Empowerment Blueprint group coaching program delves into this topic and more, offering friendship advice for women.
• 🧩 And if you need to connect one-on-one—whether you’re the one who feels betrayed or the one who may have done the betraying—we can have a safe, compassionate conversation about that too, focusing on rebuilding trust in friendships.

✨ Your Friendship Connection Challenge

Send a quick message to a friend you appreciate today. Let them know you’re thinking of them 💌.

I hope you’ll join me and so many other powerful women at the next SundayReset Virtual Coffee Chat for Women on May 18, 2025 🗓️.

Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the courage it takes to build true friendships in today’s world 🌍 within the context of women’s friendships.

With love and connection,
The Lady’z Lounge 💐

What’s going on with The Lady’z Lounge

---

---