WHAT IS THE BEST SUITABLE FRIENDSHIP FOR A NORMAL PERSON?
- According to a study conducted by evolutionary biologist Robin M. Dunbar, people can only establish stable relationships with roughly 150 people on average. Only five of these relationships qualify as “close friendships.”
- A more recent study, however, by Wibke Wurst and Julia Zimmermann, discovered that most adults have two close friends on average. They also discovered that as we become older, we have fewer friends.
WHY HIGHLY EDUCATED OR INNOVATIVE PEOPLE HAVE LESS FRIENDS THAN NORMAL PEOPLE
Highly educated people have fewer friends for a variety of reasons, not just their IQ. These issues may include their diverse interests, poor social skills, high standards, hectic schedules, and emotional intensity.
- However, it is important to stress that these characteristics do not define or limit the social lives of clever people. Regardless of intellect level, it is possible to overcome these obstacles and build meaningful connections with others.
- Don’t mix clever people with highly intellectual or highly educated people
REASONS
- Their MENTAL WELL-BEING COMES FIRST. Intellectual people are frequently concerned about their mental health and well-being. To sustain good functioning and productivity, they prioritise their mental and emotional wellness. This may imply minimising social engagements in order to conserve mental energy, hence reducing the number of friendships they have. Those who do not prioritise their mental health, on the other hand, may prioritise socialising over their welfare, which can lead to shallow and unfulfilling friendships.
- THEY ARE SELECTIVE Being fussy isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In reality, many people wish they could be more selective about who they let into their lives.
- SOLITUDE SUITS THEM. Such people frequently like spending time alone to pursue their interests, rejuvenate, and contemplate. They may not feel the need to socialise as much and may choose to spend their time alone or with a small group of like-minded people. Because they are comfortable to be alone, they may have fewer friends.
- THEY DON’T HAVE FOMO: FOMO is the dread of missing out, and intellectual people are fortunate to be free of it. People with high IQs are often uninterested in materialistic pursuits. They are perfectly pleased to do their own thing. They don’t mind having meaningless discussions, pretending to be interested, and attempting to stay up with the current trends and what everyone is up to. In fact, brilliant people prefer to spend time alone in order to make better use of their time and learn new things—their minds don’t have time for mindless chit-chat.
- THEY ARE MORE CONCERNED WITH LONG-TERM GOALS. Many of the world’s most successful people are introverts. Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and even comic Will Ferrell were shy introverts once. These celebs are more concerned with their ambitions than with socialising. They are only delayed by instant pleasure and fleeting social highs. Smart people are motivated by a genuine desire to contribute to something far larger than themselves. If they had the choice between going out on a Friday night with a group of friends and staying at home and working towards their goal, odds are they will choose the latter. It’s not that they don’t appreciate friendship; they do, but they don’t prioritise it. They would rather meet with a few other pals to talk ideas than attend a rowdy party.
- THEY KNOW THEIR WORTH It’s shockingly easy to cut connections with someone who mistreats you when you know your worth. People pursue meaningless friendships and connections for a variety of reasons, one of which is that they get some type of enjoyment from having a huge list of contacts on their phones and receiving attention on social media. Intellectual people have already passed past the stage of continuously wanting to show their worth. Most of the time, they’re already satisfied with themselves and confident in their numbered connections. They also do not rely on others to affirm their worth. All the help they require or desire comes from within and from the few friends they have.
- THEY ALREADY KNOW WHO THEIR TRUE FRIENDS ARE. You may be certain that such individuals have already determined who their true pals in life are. Smart people are also more likely to accept those who share their beliefs, values, and work in industries with similar interests. And when they are secure in their existing relationships, they don’t need to form new ones.
- THEY PREFER DEEP CONNECTION Such prefer deeper, more meaningful friendships over superficial ones. When it comes to friendships, they frequently value quality above numbers.
- THEY HAVE LESS FREE TIME These people are generally preoccupied with pursuing their goals and interests. They have less spare time to socialise and create relationships. Unlike their less intellectual peers, who may have more opportunities to socialise, bright people may prioritise their commitments over leisure activities or social events. This might make it difficult to build and maintain connections, especially with others who do not understand their hectic lifestyle..
HOW CAN YOU STRENGTHEN YOUR FRIENDSHIP BONDS?
Now that we know the statistics let’s explore some ways we can strengthen our friendships so that we can be part of that percentage of friendships that last.
- One way to do this is by staying in touch regularly. Life gets busy, and we often forget to check on our friends. Set a reminder to give your friend a call once a week or a month, schedule a lunch or a coffee date, or simply send a text to ask how they’re doing. It takes a small act of effort to let our friends know we’re thinking of them, and that can go a long way in keeping that friendship strong.
- Another way to strengthen our friendships is by being present when we’re together. Put away your phone or any other distraction, and give your friend your undivided attention. Listen actively, ask questions, and share your thoughts and feelings. Be present in the moment, and let them know that you care about what they have to say.
- A good friendship requires effort and communication. When we’re honest and express our feelings to our friends, it strengthens the bond between us. Be brave and vulnerable while communicating our needs and boundaries. Listen actively to their thoughts and feelings and work together to find a solution that makes both of you happy.
- Lastly, one of the most important things you can do to strengthen your friendships is to show up during difficult times. When our friend is going through a tough time, being there for them can make all the difference. It’s important to be a listening ear, show empathy, and help them in any way they need. Being there for our friends will show them that we care and that they can rely on us
My wife always laughs at me and tells me I’ve never seen a man like you who has almost no friends, so I just laugh up my sleeves and tell her, My dear. When I was in college, I had 500 friends. At that time, I was a fool, but as I grew up and started learning, my friend list started shrinking. If your friend list is long, then it means you are not mature yet. So whoever has a small circle of friends should feel that they are now mature enough to deal with this world.
