After college, we all know the time was coming where your close group of friends separates and moves around to different places to pursue their jobs or find what they want to do. But then, you are left with maybe a couple of your close friends where you live, if it happens to work out that way. Either way, after college your social life changes where it's up to you to create your new social circle. In college, it just happens because you are in an environment that sets it all up for you. But after, you have to go out there and find it.
How do we find and create our social circle?!
I don't know. But I do know, you shouldn't just leave it up to chance. That has been my strategy since last May and it's not bringing the social circle and the strong group of people to connect with, motivate you, and have fun with, that I know are out there. After college, I had some friends that stayed in San Diego, which I was so thankful for and was relying on them for all my social fun, activities, and support. Sometimes that will work out great and it has, it's just very familiar for me because I haven't branched out. With such a big life change after college, your social circle needs to expand and adapt to it.
Who you surround yourself with matters. It has a huge influence on how you feel in your day-to-day life and how much fun you are having at social events or hangouts. It's all about the people. We need people who match or mimic our drive in some fashion, who inspires us to try new things or go to new places, and who support and encourage us. Sounds like a lot to ask for? Yes. But it's not as hard as you think, these traits aren't like a yes or no quality. When meeting new people you have to be aware of these questions, but just see if these type of people have the potential, because trust me it will make a difference.
But after college, how do we meet new people?!
Okay so there's the usual -- work, going out, gym, and I don't know. It's hard, I get it. The real answer is, you just have to make the effort. Go to your friend's party, that maybe you wouldn't normally go to because you don't know many of the people. Go to new coffee shops and perhaps strike up a conversation with someone around you, just to get out there being social to strangers. Go to social places, where it's not just all a dance party, but where you can actually talk to people. Go to the new workout class you wanted to try and ask someone how they like it. These days it's hard to make random conversation with strangers, but it's something worthwhile to do. Maybe you will meet your new BFF, maybe you will make more acquaintances, or maybe you will just have a conversation, either way, it's a win.
My experience as I have tried to actively expand my social circle, I went to an open invite event at a Kombucha shop that a food blogger I follow was hosting. I went with a friend, which was great, but I was about to go alone because I wanted to go. It was the perfect opportunity to meet people and be around people that had similar interests at a cute place. We ended up talking to a few random people that were so nice. While I didn't meet a whole new group of best friends, that's not going to happen overnight. But the first step is having a conversation.
CHEERS,
CIERRA