Building Friendships as an Adult: 3 Steps to Overcome Loneliness
Episode Overview
Change your mindset to believe you're worth having friends. Take the initiative to make plans and start conversations. Commit to following through on social plans. Understand that not every interaction will lead to a close friendship. Persist in your efforts to build meaningful relationships.
We have the freedom and the autonomy to go first and not wait for others to do that anymore.
Feeling lonely as an adult? You're not alone. Zoe Asher, host of Accidentally Intentional, tackles the daunting task of making friends as an adult in 2025. She starts by highlighting a sobering statistic: 60% of US adults feel lonely. Zoe's mission is to turn this around with three simple steps that can help you build meaningful friendships and boost your confidence. First, she stresses the importance of a mindset shift.
You need to believe you're worth having friends and that you don't want to be lonely anymore. It's about changing your identity from 'I'm lonely' to 'I'm an amazing friend'. Zoe draws on James Clear's Atomic Habits to back up the power of mindset changes. Next, she encourages you to 'go first'. This means taking the initiative to make plans and start conversations. It's about giving others the chance to respond positively rather than waiting to be approached.
Lastly, she talks about commitment. This isn't just about putting dates in your calendar but also about being someone who follows through on their promises. Zoe emphasises that not everyone you meet will become a close friend, and that's okay. The key is persistence and recognising your worth in building rich friendships. If you're struggling with loneliness or just looking to expand your social circle, this episode offers practical advice and encouragement to take those first steps.