When we were kids, it was easy to make friends. Often all you had to do was go up to a person and ask, “Will you be my friend?” and the two of you would romp off hand in hand to the playground.
Making friends as an adult is more difficult, especially when you move to new surroundings or discover your beliefs are no longer compatible with people you were close to once. The result can be loneliness and the effects can be devastating.
This week’s focus is on how to combat loneliness and create lasting friendships. My guest, Lee Hopkins, knows the pangs of what it means to be lonely all too well. Growing up as a transgender teen, he felt he had to hide his true identity, which made it difficult to maintain quality friendships. Then, when he revealed himself as trans, he was surprised to find that making good friends was equally hard. It was only when he confronted his own limitations that he was able to overcome loneliness and forge the friendships he craved, and he shares his tips with us, including:
•when a positive mindset isn’t enough
•the first step in establishing a new friendship
•the three social myths to be aware of
•why rejection is not always a bad thing
•how to create a memorable conversation
•the actions that will keep you from lasting friendships
If you find yourself missing the closeness of good friendships, you won’t want to miss this frank discussion on this episode of Dream Power Radio.
Lee’s biography in his own words: My name is Coach Lee Hopkins. I help people create lasting friendships and... I'm also a transman. For several years, l didn’t have supportive people who knew the real me in my life. I always thought that I knew what to do when it comes to making friends BUT many times, even though I wasn’t always alone, I was very lonely. That’s because when it comes to making friends – I mean really building meaningful friendships and relationships —I was doing more damage than I realized. I didn’t notice how I was contributing because my past patterns had made the dysfunction all feel so normal. I spent years uncovering these patterns and turning them into new possibilities of friendship and meaningful relationships with others. I believe that life feels more complete when you have people to share it with. Don’t you agree? I’m here to help you create the fulfilling friendships and relationships that you deserve. With my help, you can change patterns of behaviors that keep you stuck. Website: https://patternsofpossibility.com/

Find out about Lee's upcoming workshop at https://www.patternsofpossibility.com/morepossibility