You’ve probably never heard of Justin Tayler.  If you have, you may be part of his inner circle of friends.  Social media platform Facebook has a 5,000 friend limit, and Justin is renowned for having reached it.  Why the limit?  Facebook claims it’s  “…to ensure manageable connections and interactions.” I’m guessing Justin must spend a lot of time “managing” 5,000 friends

Facebook is exploiting the fact that humans instinctively seek connection.  Although romantic love is highly valued in our culture, one of the main reasons we seek therapy is because romantic relationships can be messy.  Romance aside, the value of friendships, in work as in life, should not be overlooked.  Psychologists agree that dependable, healthy friendships are a critical piece of our well-being and longevity.  Even minimal social interactions, research suggests, can be powerful.

There’s more to friends than just unwinding after work at Happy Hour.  Studies show that wrapping up a difficult task with a friend alongside is less stressful than working alone.  Accompanied by a friend, we tend to assess hills as being a little less steep, problems a bit less daunting.  Making friends at work is a good career move. <continue reading>