WHEN YOUR FRIENDS Aren't your friends

When your friends aren't real friends, focus on gratitude and self-worth. Surround yourself with people who appreciate you. Rediscover your passions and engage in activities you love. Practice self-care rituals and set positive intentions. Seek empowering activities like sports to build confidence and find a supportive community. Remember, you're not alone, and you will find people who appreciate the real you. When your friends aren't actually your friends, start to do gratitude for your good health, wellness of family and the food in your fridge. It's the little things you take for granted that others wish they had. Step one, anchor your self-worth, smile to the pain. Start by reminding yourself that you are your own best advocate. It's easy to let others' opinions cloud our sense of self-worth, but true confidence comes from within. Each morning, affirm one of your strengths or qualities, no matter how small it may seem. Think of this as building an inner fortress of resilience, so when negativity comes your way, it bounces off rather than breaking through. Step two, re-evaluate your friend group. Realize who is not actually your friend and who is. If your current friends don't bring out the best in you, it may be time to broaden your social circle. Surround yourself with people who appreciate and celebrate you for who you are. Joining a new activity or hobby is a fantastic way to meet others who share your interests and passions. Start by picking up a sport or join a fitness class. Not only will it boost your energy and confidence, but it's a great way to connect with people who are enthusiastic and supportive. You deserve friends who make you feel valued, not drained. Step three, rediscover your passions. Do the things that make you feel good inside. Getting back to what makes you feel alive is an essential part of this journey. Whether it's art, reading, music, or even trying something new, engaging in activities you love will recharge you. By putting yourself out there and exploring what excites you, you will naturally attract people who resonate with your energy and see your worth. Step four, bonus rituals and positive intentions. Build simple self-care rituals into your day. Small moments like practicing deep breathing, journaling, positive affirmations, or aligning with a warm shower or bath can help you feel grounded and reconnected with yourself. Additionally, set intentions that focus on creating a more positive environment for yourself. Continue to pursue friendships that are kind, balanced, and reciprocated. When we nurture ourselves, we attract others who do the same. Step five, seek empowering activities in sports. Finding a hobby or a team sport can offer more than just enjoyment. It's a pathway to build confidence, camaraderie, and a sense of belonging. Sports, creative classes, and group hobbies connect you with others who appreciate the journey and value teamwork. These environments foster friendships based on shared respect and mutual growth, helping you find a supportive community that leaves you feeling stronger, not lesser. Embrace the journey. You're not alone. Many people go through stages where they re-evaluate their relationships to find new passions and align themselves with friends who lift them up. This is your opportunity to grow, to explore, and to surround yourself with people who see your worth. You come through this with a renewed sense of confidence and joy. Remember the world is full of people who will appreciate the true you. You just need to find them one step at a time. P.S. D.J. J. Gold, BCAAs, helps reverse the effects of depression and trauma. Three movies I recommend, Good Will Hunting, Yes Man, and Again, Again. Books, We Have a Peaceful World by Dan Millman. For music and feelings of abandonment, you can look up my profile of Inboxer72 on Spotify and a list of the name of the title itself is Abandonment Issues. When my trauma takes hold and I hear all the laughter through all the pain of being outcasted, I listen to Rap, Beautiful by Eminem. It makes me feel better when the trauma slowly fades away. I'm going to start recording this advice and post it to audio.com. That way if someone else is dealing with the same thing, there will be an auditable library for solutions of issues someone may be dealing with.