Numerous studies have shown a clear link between meaningful friendships, positive shared experiences, social connectedness, happiness and long life.

In any relationship, quality is of the utmost importance if the friendship is to impact our life positively.

So, whilst shared experiences heighten an experience for us as individuals, they also hold the key to developing these is having a deeper and more meaningful relationship.

A shared experience has many psychological benefits, allowing us to develop our ability for emotional empathy and to understand each other better. These connections then give our own lives a sense of meaning and community.

Psychologists Mark Leary and Roy Baumeister explain this as our need to satisfy two conditions: mutual care and a feeling of being valued.

No matter how small, shared experiences create moments of belonging, and offer opportunities to take our friendships to even greater levels of trust and intimacy. Even something as simple as a shared cup of tea with a stranger during which a brief but meaningful conversation can take place creates the opportunity to gain an understanding of each other and the possibility of developing a friendship, creating longer-lasting bonds and helping us feel better connected to those around us.

Our built-in human response is to look for danger or trouble in any situation. While important for our survival as cavemen, today our negative bias can lead us to unhappiness and resignation. An important step in building our resilience against this negativity is a bank of positive experiences that remind us of the possibilities and opportunities around us. Meaningful relationships offer regular moments of joy, pleasure, fun and contentment.

GFS Perth has been enabling Friendship for almost 140 years. Check our socials or Events Calendar. #FriendshipRevolution