Mixing Friend Groups? A Relationship Coach Shares What to Do (And What Not to Do)

I like to throw dinner parties. It has become a passionate project to build a room of loose threads and see them tightly in an attached web – which holds the place, emitting the connection, and continues for a long time after the plates are cleaned. There is something magical about seeing people you hoped to meet with the exchange numbers, and the way the night refuses to end up with each one ends with eating dessert in the kitchen.

Research suggests that we are wired to connect and the feeling of belonging to it can provide incredible healing benefits and self -reality to every aspect of our lives. Naturally, mixing friends groups seems like a good idea. Better health, a strong support system, and more memories with people you love. Win One!

But in fact, individuals can clash and strange silence can arise. Whenever I plan events and combine old and new groups, I have found how unexpectedly this process can be difficult. I am sure that friendship can work together. But it depends on the crowd. Read some friends to learn some of the ways of introducing and keeping others separate.

The psychology of friend groups

“A strong friend group provides a safety net during a difficult time and gives us flexibility to deal with life challenges,” says Jenny Menipa, LCSW. “Knowing that we have people who care for us, they can reduce stress and loneliness. They play an important role in forming a sense of identity. Being part of a group also meets the basic human need for communication. It reminds us that we are not alone in this world.”

Dr. Maki Lee Elmebi, a licensed psychologist of Clearity Therapy NYC, explained that the formation of friendly groups involves combined identity, conditions, values, unclear rules, and a mixture of individual characters – such as peace or planners – which affects all social dynamics.

Therefore, keeping the different dimensions of your personality (or tund down) depends on those with whom you are hanging. My work friends see me as a type-A organizer who never loses detail, while my spiritual friends know the inner aspect that leads to intuitive and faith. I switch to these versions without interruption, but when these two groups come together, how do I show it can be a different story.

How to get a friend group to be mixed

If you want to connect your friends, here are some things that can make you succeed SET.

Search for shared interests

“If you are introducing different friends and hoping to form a compatible group, try to start from the joint ground, such as introducing friends who are in common,” says Elmebi. “It is a shared interest, life experience, or just that they have the same sense of humor. It will be much easier to try to mix with different friends wildly, which is not common with each other, which makes you play a social referee.

Introduce others in a meaningful event

The best way to connect Friend groups is in a program with a built -in intent, joint experience, or joint interest, such as birthday function, game night, house warming, concert, therapy activity, pure experience, or wedding. When there is a theme to focus, it eliminates the pressure. “Common activities can act as a neutral ground where people can bond without pressure,” says Manpa.

Be hosted with the most

“You can start smaller by facilitating the first one -on -one interaction, or you can throw everyone in the same room and expect the best,” says Elmebi. “It is really up to what you feel more comfortable with. Does it matter that you feel everyone as much as possible.”

Encourage the basis of respect and joining

“Encourage everyone to appreciate each other’s differences, whether in humor, communication style or interests,” says Manpa. When you have a warm attitude and loves the people you love compassion and compliments, people want to interact more with each other.

Fix realistic expectations

“Pay attention to how people talk,” Manpa advised. It helps to respect everyone’s sovereignty and avoid frustration. “If anyone is left or anxious, take them into the conversation or activity.”

Research shows that having a large network of different ages, races, income and educational backgrounds leads to social harmony and personal welfare. Healthy friend groups have stress, life’s high satisfaction, adaptation and more flexibility.

In addition, your community feels more sectarian. When you move towards a large group, emotional support extends and there are more perspectives to consider. If a friend is ill, another friend can show with soup. If someone is going through a difficult time, the whole group can rally and help them out overall. We no longer have to go alone.

Challenges to mix the friend group

Despite your best intentions, sometimes friend groups do not play well together. Here are some things to consider:

• They just don’t mash well. Jealousy, group, group roles, or understanding proximity can cause stress, especially when some friends have a long history than others. In the Almbabi notice, people who are colliding with high friends who dominate personalities or less important personalities can also be difficult with people. She says, “It is better to create all groups naturally instead of force the whole group together.”
• Matching outlook. If your friend groups are in the stages of other life or have different values, it can be difficult to find a combined combined basis for more concrete friendship.
• Personal preference. Some friends prefer small circle because they value nurturing small contacts, feel restless about expecting to be with each, or eliminating large group settings.
• Feeling. Sometimes, you can wrap up in a situation where your best friends start walking without you. This may cause problems that you have no connection anymore and you are being excluded. This is a common anxiety, and when it is positive that your friends are walking with, it can also trigger the harsh emotions that you forget, are changed, ignored, rejected or disposed of.

When mixed friends go wrong

If this doesn’t happen well, what to do here is:

Recognize the problem

“If stress or discomfort arises, do not ignore them. Mianpa says solve this problem calmly and compassionately. It can promote sympathy and mutual understanding. Sometimes, just naming the problem can help the group move forward.

Accept it

Just because you love them does not mean that they have to love each other. Allow any pressure and let them connect with their terms. This will promote the least healthy communication and respect. If you compel it, they may feel angry.

Mix groups consciously

Consider the last place. The Veb may have been off because the order was not good or did not join with some individuals. Thinking about these elements, you can create a future environment where everyone can reasonably meet with the time that is most important.

Let’s go

“If some individuals collide or permanently excluded, it will be able to consider how the group communicates,” says Manpa, Small, more intimate gatherings can work better than large group activities. ” “Not every friend group will come together at all, and that’s fine. It is natural for some people to connect more deeply than others. Focus on the upbringing of working contacts.”

Stabilize your friendship

Friendship is not zero. If your best friends are unexpectedly better than that you think they will do, it doesn’t reduce your unique bond. A growing community is like a growing environmental system where the connection is mixed. Instead of feeling hurt that your friends are hanging without you, see it as a sign that you have a lot of taste in people and that love is being enhanced.

When you feel threatened, acknowledging this is an important insecurity. Press your emotions. Bring it with your friends, share what you are feeling, and ask for more standard time. Being weak about your fears will bring you closer together.

Down line

I like the magic of bringing my friend groups and seeing all the people I care about most in the same room. At the same time, I really enjoy one -on -one settings where everyone can flourish.

The quality of the quality is more important, and this principle applies to connecting friendly groups. I suggest bring people together because it feels meaningful and enriching, not just for it. Trust you and your friends what feels right, and let the contacts open naturally.