The Path We Forge: Finding A Supportive Community

Rooted & Rising: A Mental Health Series for Women – Part 5. Catch up with Part 1: The Elephant in the Room: The Weight We Carry and Part 4: The Moth Evolution: Finding Worth Beyond Appearance

Friendship is often where we find our first mirrors and safety. Yet for many women, adult friendships become more complicated. They are marked by growing apart, the occasional jealousy, envy, comparison, emotional labor, or seasons of silence that feel like loss. The loneliness that follows isn’t just about being alone; it’s about feeling unseen, even in a crowded room.

As we grow older, so do our values, needs, and capacity. Outgrowing friendships can feel like grief, especially when we’ve been taught to equate loyalty with never letting go. But letting go doesn’t mean failure. Sometimes, it means making space for connection that aligns with who you are becoming, not just who you were.

Real Community doesn’t ask you to shrink. 

It makes room for who you are and who you are becoming.

Grieving What No Longer Fits

Dr. Miriam Kirmayer, a clinical psychologist who specializes in adult friendship, reminds us that friendship transitions are normal. They don’t make us bad friends. They simply reflect the natural shifts of life.
If you’ve ever found yourself retreating, questioning your place in a group, or mourning a friendship that faded without closure. I have been there.

Journal Prompt

Reach out to someone who makes you feel grounded and seen. Or write a letter to the kind of friend you wish for. What qualities would they have? How would you feel in their presence?

In solitude, we often hear truth 

of what we need and what no longer fits.

Voices of Connection

“I thought I had to keep everyone close, even when I was shrinking. But finding my people wasn’t about numbers; it was about how I felt when I showed up as myself.”
- Participant in a women’s healing circle

You are allowed to make new circles. You are allowed to redefine what friendship means to you. You are not too much. You are not too late. You are allowed to be chosen back.

Call to Action

Connect today—with yourself or with someone who sees the real you. Let one moment of truth or warmth remind you that you are worthy of belonging.

References

- Miriam Kirmayer, Ph.D. (https://miriamkirmayer.com)

- Psychology Today: Adult friendships and emotional well-being

Resources

- https://miriamkirmayer.com

- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/friendship

Longing for deeper connection in a world that often feels disconnected?

Looking for gentle-grounding support?

Download the free Trauma-Informed Self-Care Guide. It was created to accompany the Rooted & Rising Women’s Mental Health series and help you reconnect with your body, voice, and healing path.

You can also check out the 7 Days of Tactile Self-Care guide.

At My Journey Compass Health, we honor the quiet courage it takes to release what no longer fits and seek friendships that feel real.

If you’re navigating loneliness, grief, or transitions in connection, you don’t have to heal alone.

Let’s explore that path together. Start connecting by giving me a call, email or booking your free 15 minutes consult below!