What Is Platonic Friendship And How to Make It Work?
With no romantic strings attached, platonic relationships connect souls at a deeper level.
shikha thakur 
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In This Article
A platonic friendship refers to the purest form of closeness between two people and is devoid of romance and sex. This friendship is marked by purity and fondness and is not built upon societal pressure. In this relationship, the bond of friendship is unbreakable and has different dimensions.
However, maintaining such a friendship requires people to treat each other with respect and abide by certain rules. Read this post to learn more about platonic friendship, its limitations, and how you can derive the most from it.
Boundaries Of A Platonic Friendship
As much as it is an absolute pleasure to have a platonic friend, it may get messy if some basic restrictions or boundaries are not laid down.
- Be careful about the things you choose to discuss. Don’t let the conversation lead to gossip around your partners.
- Avoid any form of physical contact as much as possible. Keep it casual and not intimate.
- Do not ditch your partner for a platonic friend. Plan your time in a way that does not revolve only around your friend. Respecting each other’s private space says a lot about the kind of bond you share.
- Do not hide your friendship from your partner. It is never a good idea to keep your platonic friendship a secret from your better half. In fact, letting them get to know each other gives a clearer picture of your friendship.
- Allow each other space to maintain a healthy friendship. Even plenty of space is not a bad idea at times. A clingy friend often turns the relationship into a toxic space that you would not want.
- Maintain a balance between your platonic friendship and your relationship with your partner and other friends.
Benefits Of A Platonic Friendship
A platonic friendship is liberating and soulful that strengthens over time.
- It plays a major role in protecting your romantic relationships. A platonic friendship gives a space where you know you can trust the other person when sharing your thoughts.
- A platonic friend is an additional support. They make you feel secure and come with mutual respect and loyalty outside of a romantic relationship.
- A platonic friendship is not built on social norms, and hence, it is not pressurizing.
- There are little to no expectations or commitments.
- A platonic friendship is meant to be passionate and stable, with no fear of a breakup.
- It also gives you a platform to explore yourself.
How To Make Platonic Friendship Work?
Here are a few tips for platonic friends to maintain a healthy relationship.
- Accept: You need to accept your platonic friendship is different from other friendships. There are no rules and obligations in a platonic friendship, and that’s how it is a nontoxic bond.
- Don’t compare: To maintain a healthy relationship, do not draw comparisons between your friend and your partner. It could lead to unresolvable and complex issues.
- Be supportive: Sometimes, a partner might not understand your friend. That’s when they need you to be on their side. Help them but do not be judgmental about each other’s partners.
- Set boundaries: Don’t cross your emotional limits—if you do, you are no longer a part of the platonic friendship. Be open about your values and opinions with your platonic friend, so you have a healthy relationship.
- Build trust: The core of a platonic friendship is trust. Keep their secret safe and let them know you will always be there for them, no matter what.
- Make it uncomplicated: That’s how a platonic friendship is all about—it is unique, free from promises and conditions. So, keep the communication smooth with your platonic friendship and keep confusion at bay.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can platonic friends cuddle?
A cuddle doesn’t need to be romantic. Cuddles can instantly lift your mood and give you a feeling of protection and comfort. So there should be no harm in cuddling with platonic friends.
2. Can you platonically fall in love?
Platonic love is a deep affection without any sexual or romantic interests. It is possible to have such a relationship with anyone, especially when you share similar values and ideas, like each other’s company, have common things to discuss, and can seek emotional support from each other.
A platonic friendship is above the usual norms of romantic interests or sexual intimacy. The connection between the people in such a relationship is pure and not based on societal pressure. Furthermore, mutual respect and loyalty are highly valued and may play a major role in the longevity and strength of a platonic friendship. Though their friendship is deep, soulful, and strong, society may not understand this kind of friendship. Therefore, explaining your friendship, especially to your romantic partner, is important to avoid unnecessary speculations.
Key Pointers
- A platonic friendship is a form of pure friendship devoid of any romantic and sexual desires.
- This type of friendship usually features a strong foundation of mutual acceptance and support, forming a healthy bond.
- You must know your boundaries when it comes to physical contact with your platonic friends and choose what you talk about wisely.
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