With International Women’s Day being on March 8th, I thought that it would be nice to take a moment to appreciate women around the world. Most of us have at least one person that comes to mind when we think about strong female figures in our lives. That person may be your sister, aunt, mother, best friend, a celebrity, or even a local cashier. As a human being, sharing bonds and feeling connected with other people is important. So important that it is even listed 3rd on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. We often look to other women for comfort and guidance on certain issues. For women, bonding with female friends has been known to improve their overall mental, emotional, and physical health.
Why Are Female Friends Important?
Female friendships can do so much. By allowing yourself to truly trust your friends and lean on one another, you foster a sense of support and comradery. In this modern age of technology and global crisis, people need friends more than ever — especially women. If you are nurturing your energies and spirituality, you also open the door to harness your feminine energy. Surrounding yourself with powerful women you admire allows you to be open and ready to receive. When you surround yourself with women who have strong, beautiful feminine energy all around them, you’ll start to see it in yourself. As you should.
Mental and Emotional Health
Studies have shown that having female friends (as a female) can lead to a happier and even longer life! Many times, our girlfriends are the ones who instill the most confidence in us. In this article, the author notes that a female friend (rather than a spouse or family member) can offer a ‘different perspective in times of need.’ They can be intuitive and offer honest feedback during a moment of self-doubt. Most women understand the importance of empowering other women because we all need a reminder of our true power at times. Whether they offer you a shoulder to cry on or a night out on the town, your girlfriends are irreplaceable.
The pandemic has shown us that being alone and isolating yourself can be mentally exhausting. Even just having a small chat with your friends could mean the world to everyone involved. Research has even proven that when females (typically more so than men) have close connections with other females, serotonin and oxytocin are released (the “happy” and “love” hormones, respectively). Therefore, it goes without saying that having quality female friends can results in a more positive mindset.
Physical Health Benefits
According to this study from the Journal of Clinical Oncology, within six months of an early diagnosis, women with better social ties had a better chance of surviving the cancer and were less likely to have a recurrent diagnosis. One study even states that spending time with friends at least twice a week could be beneficial to your health. These social interactions could lead to fewer illnesses, a longer life, quicker recovery time from surgery, and even children who live longer. Also, being in a group setting, friends are more likely to be active or encourage some sort of activity that engages the body and mind.
Overall, women could gain a lot simply by doing something they may have already enjoyed: spending time with their best girlfriends. Whether it’s mental, emotional, or physical, the benefits speak volumes for themselves. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to talk more about this. I am always happy to assist with your journey. I offer in-person appointments as well as HIPAA-compliant virtual options.
Sources:
https://www.bhg.com.au/female-friendships
https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/benefits-of-a-girlsquad-and-female-friendships
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