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TikTok trend -

The seven friends theory is a friendship theory that originated on TikTok. It attempts to describe the optimum circle of friends.

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The basic concept -

According to the seven friends theory, each person should have a group of seven friends, each of whom plays a different but equally important role in their life.

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Examples -

Examples of the types of friends include "the friend you have known since you were little" and "the friend you can tell absolutely anything."

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Different friend, different role -

According to the seven friends theory, each friend plays a different supportive role, so that the burden of being a good friend doesn’t fall on one person alone.

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Is it realistic? -

But while the idea of the seven friends theory may be appealing, many people may wonder how realistic it actually is.

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Going viral -

The seven friends theory went viral on TikTok, with huge numbers of people sharing videos that showed off their own seven friends.

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The friend you've had since you were little -

Let’s look at the different types of friend. The first is the friend you have had since you were little. Perhaps you were in kindergarten together, or your parents were next-door neighbors.

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The friend you've had since you were little -

There is usually a deep sense of comfort associated with the friend you’ve had since you were little; a strong bond that is based on your shared history together.

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The friend who can always make you laugh -

Next, we have the friend who could make you laugh in any situation. Generally speaking, this person is always up for a good time.

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The friend who can always make you laugh -

Imagine you are feeling a little low on energy and you need something or someone to cheer you up. Who are you going to call?

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The friend you can go for ages without contacting, and nothing changes -

The third category of friend is that person who you can go for a very long time without talking to–years, even–and still nothing changes.

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The friend you can go for ages without contacting, and nothing changes -

You may have completely different lifestyles and live at the opposite ends of the world, but whenever you do connect, you just pick up where you left off.

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The friend you can share anything with -

Then we have the friend whom you can share anything with. You might like to think of this person as your vault.

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The friend you can share anything with -

With this friend, you do not worry about them knowing your deepest, darkest secrets. You know they won’t shame you, and they won’t tell a soul.

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The friend who's like a sibling -

The fifth friend in the circle is the one who’s like a sibling. This friend tends to feel very comfortable around you and everything that’s yours.

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The friend who's like a sibling -

The friend who’s like a sibling may, for example, go and grab a snack from your cupboard without asking. They are the kind of friend you know will be in your life forever.

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The friend you can't imagine life without -

There is also the friend you can’t imagine not being friends with. In general, this friend is an important part of your daily life.

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The friend you can't imagine life without -

This is the friend whom you text more than anyone else; the friend who is the first to hear when something important happens in your life.

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The friend who hears about all your relationship woes, even if they don't want to -

And, finally, we have the friend who hears all about your relationship problems, even if they don’t want to hear about it.

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The friend who hears about all your relationship woes, even if they don't want to -

Including this friend in the group may be controversial, since sharing your relationship problems with them to their detriment may amount to an unfair emotional burden.

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The importance of friendship -

It is no great secret that forging and maintaining friendships is a crucial part of the human experience.

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Friendship and mental health -

Indeed, research indicates that a lack of interpersonal relationships can be very detrimental to a person’s mental health.

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Finding your friends -

However, it is important not to panic if you have no idea who would fill the different friendship roles in your life.

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Available strategies -

Making friends as an adult can be daunting, but there are some strategies that you may find useful.

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Lean into your interests -

Experts recommend, for example, that when trying to find your people, you lean more into the hobbies and activities you enjoy.

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The thinking -

The idea is that if you are out in the world doing the things you love, you will attract the friendship of people who are passionate about doing the same.

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Be someone you'd like to befriend -

Another good tip is to become the type of person you would want to be friends with. This process starts with some self-reflection.

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Be someone you'd like to befriend -

Have a think about whether you would want to hang out with yourself. If not, consider why not, and think about making some changes.

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The bottom line -

The bottom line with the seven friends theory is that it’s just a bit of fun. For many people it’s not realistic, for whatever reason.

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Key merit -

However, it does highlight the importance of friendship and encourage us to prioritize connection and forge friendships wherever we can.

Sources: (Verywell Mind)

See also: The incredible benefits of exercising with friends

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