“Sometimes a cancellation comes from a place of burnout,” says Dr. Miriam Kirmayer. “Maintaining our friendships and investing in our relationships does require a significant amount of energy.”

Most of us haven’t been taught that breaking up with a friend is worthy of sympathy, it leaves a lot of ambiguity around how we should feel when one is ending, says Dr. Miriam Kirmayer.

Not every friend needs to be your BFF. Dr. Miriam Kirmayer helps explain why weaker ties can help offer strong rewards.

The first step, says Dr. Miriam Kirmayer, a therapist and friendship expert, is to set the stage by knowing the expectations we have for our friendships.

Here, Dr. Miriam Kirmayer shares how to build deeper bonds in your current relationships and start brand new ones that bring meaning, support, and a whole lot of value to your life.