Why Platonic Relationships Are Just As Important As Romantic Ones

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Healthy romantic relationships come with a hefty package of benefits: unconditional love, reduced stress, social fulfillment - you name it. Unfortunately, due to Hollywood-esque expectations, we often forget to focus on maintaining healthy platonic relationships. A platonic relationship is a loving yet romantic relationship between friends. Similar to its romantic counterpart, platonic relationships come with a multitude of health and social advantages. Here are four reasons why you should prioritize platonic relationships as much as romantic ones:

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1. Platonic relationships improve emotional development
Humans are social beings, meaning that friendship is necessary for people to achieve any kind of emotional development. Social interactions encourage people to develop skills such as active listening, problem-solving, and even empathy. Whilst most of these are learned from a young age, maintaining a social schedule will heighten all of those skills.

2. Platonic relationships provide unconditional support
We are all capable of managing the ebbs and flows of life, but going through them in the company of others is significantly less stressful. Having a strong group of friends can help you overcome difficult times and celebrate personal achievements. Romantic partners are capable of providing the same support, but it's essential to cultivate a support system outside of your relationship.

3. Platonic relationships give us perspective
Guess what? We're not perfect. Sometimes we act on emotional impulses and make mistakes. Fortunately, a reliable group of friends can help us parse out out ideas and make the appropriate choices. At the end of the day, you know what's best for you but having the opinion of your closest friends can open your eyes to factors you're blinded to. 

4. Platonic relationships promote longevity
Healthy platonic relationships lead to social support, which surprisingly leads to a longer life-span. There are a lot of health disadvantages that come with social isolation including stress, depression and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Investing in our platonic relationships is a form of self-care. It teaches us to be independent in the company of our loved ones. So what are you waiting for? Invite your friends over!

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