Here’s a truth you never hear: you need fewer friends than you think. Not because you’re antisocial — but because your biology is built that way.
Anthropologists found that humans only have the bandwidth for a handful of real connections: about 5 people in your inner circle. And neuroscience backs it up — your stress hormones drop 40% when you’re with these people. Your oxytocin rises, your nervous system stabilizes. Big social circles create comparison and pressure but a small circle creates calm, trust, and resilience. Write down your core 5 right now. If you can’t name them, that’s your first step.
You don’t need more people. You just need the right few.
