It’s true that humans are social animals, in fact, humans are among the most social of all mammals. The people we spend most of our time with, from coworkers to partners, all have the potential to greatly impact our quality of life. Having strong and healthy relationships provides us with systems of support and are essential to our happiness. For some, starting new relationships isn’t so difficult but maintaining healthy boundaries and finding safe friendships and partners is a bit of a struggle. If you’re having trouble making new friendships, you’re not alone. In fact, a growing number of American adults report that they have less and less close friendships than ever before, but there are things that you can do on your own to improve your odds of forming healthy relationships. Living your life with authenticity, and practicing communication skills can help your friendships and romantic relationships alike. Understanding your own values and communicating them clearly are skills that can be strengthened just like anything else! Let’s talk about cultivating supportive friendships and romantic relationships while setting safe personal boundaries.