How many real friends do you have?

[cistanche_enjoyer]

I noticed that in the last few years, as I’ve been progressing with spiritual work, I’ve been losing more and more friends from when I was younger.

The main reason, I think, being simply because I find most of them to be too “shallow”. Most people are at a low level of consciousness and so focused on meaningless things, that I cannot value spending time with them anymore. Am I falling into the “spiritual ego” trap?

I am also naturally an introvert, as I guess most people on this forum. So I wanted to ask you, how did spiritual work impact your friendships? Did you manage to make new friends that aligned better with your values? Do you still have friends from the old days?

[manuel bon]

Probably 3, and the best one is my gf

[Ulax]

Just my brother, really.

I cut everyone from my childhood out. So just my bro from the old days.

New friends wise I've struggled with. But my mind was mostly consumed with my life being a mess for quite a few years so i think that got in the way alot.

[Jehovah increases]

I use to have a lot of friends for a long time in my life now only a few and my brother. When doing psychedelics in can be very lonely but you get use to it.

Edited 1 hour ago by Jehovah increases

[LordFall]

A few good friends but in general most people I find myself not in alignment with. Especially with AI these days though it doesn't concern me as much as it fulfills a lot of my intellectual relationship component and that's one of the things I value most in friendship. 

[Nemra]

I haven't had a real friend yet.

[bazera]

@cistanche_enjoyer How would you define a "real" friendship? 

For me, it depends. Sometimes when I just want to socialize and have fun, I don't seek out friends with whom I'd have philosophical discussions.

When I want to talk about something deeper or share my own stuggles or hardships, there are 1-2 friends that I'd go to.

Is the second one more real than the first one? I don't know. 

Edited 1 hour ago by bazera

[cistanche_enjoyer]

52 minutes ago, bazera said:

How would you define a "real" friendship? 

That’s a good question on its own 

But what I had in mind are more in general friends with whom you talk and hang out regularly, outside of work/university/family. In your case both the examples would count.

[cistanche_enjoyer]

1 hour ago, LordFall said:

A few good friends but in general most people I find myself not in alignment with. Especially with AI these days though it doesn't concern me as much as it fulfills a lot of my intellectual relationship component and that's one of the things I value most in friendship.

Damn bro you replaced your friends with AI. I’m not so sure it’s a good thing, though I see the appeal…

[cistanche_enjoyer]

1 hour ago, Jehovah increases said:

When doing psychedelics in can be very lonely but you get use to it.

Why do you think this happens?

[LordFall]

7 minutes ago, cistanche_enjoyer said:

Damn bro you replaced your friends with AI. I’m not so sure it’s a good thing, though I see the appeal…

No I just spend a bit less time with them and now don't expect them to have to entertain me intellectually since I can do that at any time with an AI. Different people have different social needs though, I'm an INTP so I don't really value shooting the shit all that much. I run social events monthly so that fulfills a lot of my socialization needs. 

[Eskilon]

Probably just one true friend, and she is my ex-girlfriend.