True friends can be counted on the fingers of one hand.

True friends can be counted on the fingers of one hand. That is something that does not surprise most of us once we have reached a certain period in life and accumulated many experiences.

We usually strive to have good relationships and truly connect with someone. We are looking for accomplices, people we can count on, friends with whom we can embrace our souls and explore each gifted feeling.

However, we do not always succeed and most of our friendships end up being punctual or not as deep as we want or desire. That is, that We do not have as many “soul friends” as we would like.

Only half of those we consider “soul friends” are actually so.

If we think about those special friends that we think we have and give them a special honorary title in our heart, we will obtain a certain amount. Now we must divide that amount in half and that is the number of “true friends” we have.

This is confirmed by a study conducted by Tel Aviv University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Only half of those we consider “soul friends” are actually so. This, without a doubt, highlights something that experience often tells us.

A team of scientists from the two aforementioned institutions have created something like a “friendship machine” that through an algorithm can evaluate the bidirectionality and reciprocity in our social relationships.

In other words, in some way the algorithm tries to know if those we consider true friends hold us in the same esteem and, therefore, place us in a rank similar to the one we give them.

The initial study was carried out with 84 people and was later supported with a survey carried out with students from Israel, the United States and Europe. Thus, as stated by Erez Shmueli, head of the study:

“It has been discovered that 95% of the research participants considered that their friendship relationships were reciprocal. If you think that someone is your friend, you hope that person thinks the same as you. But this is not the case: only 50% of those interviewed fit into the category of two-way friendship, that is, the one that occurs on both sides.”

True friendships are rare

True friendships are rare. It’s not something that catches us by surprise, right? However, it is somewhat disturbing. We really can’t generalize and affirm that the same thing happens to all of us, but the truth is that it does happen with the majority of our contacts.

Certain life circumstances may unite us and separate those people we consider today (or we consider yesterday) friends. It is not then a question of quantity but of quality. With the passage of time and the accumulation of life circumstances that surround us, we learn to love our life companions more, but their number is significantly reduced.

In itself, this fact is not bad or strange but, quite simply, a law of life. Over time, feelings become more intense towards those who generate the most trust in us and, therefore, the best “vibrations” they bring us.

It is often a question of instinct and approach, since If we believe that they do us good, we will carry confidence and good feelings as our flag.. This will bring us closer to the people we like and create clean and sincere friendships, the kind we call “true”…

Illustrations by Kristina Webb

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