There’s so much talk on how to effectively set boundaries, but what about receiving them?

If you’ve recently found yourself in a situation where a friend called you out on something, you might have been left feeling confused, defensive, indignant, and not quite sure how to respond. But these are the moments that test the strength and resilience of a friendship, and so it’s crucial they are handled with care. In this episode, our resident friendship expert Danielle Bayard Jackson shares valuable insights on how to navigate these potentially challenging moments.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

- three key ways to avoid reacting negatively when a friend sets a boundary with you

- the importance of remaining curious in your friendshuips, and empathising with the emotions behind the boundary, even if you don’t agree with the details

- the distinction between a healthy boundary and one established to control or overcorrect a past crossed boundary

- practical advice and scripts to handle these situations with your friends

And as always, stay tuned to the end for this week's homework.

To explore more of Danielle’s friendship expertise, connect with her at www.instagram.com/daniellebayardjackson and www.betterfemalefriendships.com 

Stay updated with the latest episodes and podcast updates at www.instagram.com/friendforward

Book a private coaching session with Danielle before she goes on break for the Summer, at etterfemalefriendships.com/coaching⁠

Join our private ⁠group chat ⁠for extra resources, at https://www.patreon.com/friendforward

Book Danielle to speak at you upcoming conference or event, by emailing [email protected]

Coordinating a bachelorette party, divvying up bridesmaid responsibilities, and navigating the engagement party group chat-- to the untrained eye, this all looks like a bunch of unnecessary wedding drama. But for women who are in the thick of wedding season, they know that it's about so much more: during wedding season, a lot of our secret friendship stuff bubbles up to the surface, and we're forced to deal with it publicly and in real time. But how do we navigate tension, express expectations, and accept the fact that some relationships will... "transition"?

In this episode, we're talking to bridal coach and therapist ⁠Kara Maureen⁠, who specializes in helping brides manage relationship drama during wedding season, She'll tell us three ways this time period can shift our friendships and what to do about those changes.

If you have a story to shard about how your friendships either deepened or ended during a wedding, please submit it to our blog here!

You can also visit us any time on Instagram @⁠friendforward ⁠or connect with Kara @⁠karathebridalcoach⁠

*Book Danielle Bayard Jackson to speak for your upcoming event by contacting [email protected]*

Have you ever wondered where to find your crew?

What if we told you it's not a matter of joining the right clubs or pretending to be more of an extrovert? In this episode, we interview Laura Tremaine (⁠https://www.lauratremaine.com) ⁠host of "10 Things to Tell You" podcast and author of the new book "The Life Council".

You'll learn:

-why the search for an "all-inclusive" bestie might be restricting your joy

-the beauty of not being everyone's everything

-how to find more satisfaction in your friendship landscape

As always, stay tuned to the end for this week's homework.

A FEW NOTES:

We're currently reading "All about Love" by bell hooks for our Friend Forward Group Chat ⁠monthly book club⁠.

Book a ⁠private session ⁠with host and resident friendship expert Danielle Bayard Jackson before she goes on break for the summer!

Book Danielle to ⁠speak ⁠at your upcoming conference or event.

There are many factors that impact the health of our female friendships, but one that goes unnoticed is the dynamics of our ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS. In today's episode of the Friend Forward podcast, Danielle Bayard Jackson-- female friendships coach and educator-- will break down 4 surprising ways that your man but be standing in the way of having more fulfilling friendships (whether it's intentional or not!).

Watch the corresponding ⁠video ⁠on Instagram to drop your comments on today's show.

Book a private coaching session with Danielle at ⁠betterfemalefriendships.com/coaching⁠.

Join our private ⁠group chat ⁠to access the full content from today's show.

**Download your FREE GUIDE "⁠How to turn acquaintances into actual friends⁠"**

The latest statistics reveal that 58% of women who are childless don’t have any childless friends or family members. Who do they turn to for support? And how do their fertility journeys impact their friendships?

In this episode, friendship expert and educator Danielle Bayard Jackson is joined by the founder of Chasing Creation and host of Lighthouse Women, Katy Seppi, to discuss the ways that women can who do and do not have children can find a way to maintain their friendship when fertility issues arise.  From the perspectives of both mothers and childless women,, Danielle and Katy give tips on how to navigate this territory, and explore the degrees of miscommunication and disconnect with your female friends.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

1. Avoid giving toxic positivity to a friend during her fertility journey
2. Notice a friend’s  silent struggle
3. Recognize (and mediate) lifestyle differences
4. Explore new ways of relating

Danielle Social Links:

• Book a private friendship coaching session here.
• Book Danielle Bayard Jackson -- friendship expert and educator-- to speak at your event.
• We save in-depth resources for our “group chat” members. Join today.
• To dive deeper into these topics and more, be on the lookout for Danielle Bayard Jackson’s book debut: "Fighting for Our Friendships" in the spring of 2024.

Whether a woman has started their fertility journey, remained childless, or recently became a mother, feelings of disconnect from friends and even themselves can occur. Talking through these situations with female friends may generate blanket statements like, “Don’t worry, we’ll be friends no matter what”. But, these over-simplified remarks just bury the problems at hand, and cause more splintering in friendships. So what are some ways to keep connections strong or repair the fractured relationships in our lives?

If a friend is sharing their struggle with infertility, the instinctual response is to be uplifting and encouraging. “Keep trying, don’t give up, just pray on it and have hope.” This begins to sound like annoying Hallmark cards and is more dismissive of the pain than helpful. These forms of toxic positivity may come from not knowing what to say or trying to fix a problem. But your friend doesn’t need fixing, rather a space to be listened to. And if the tables are turned, communicating this need for your female friends to hold space for heavy emotions like grief or disappointment can go a long way in avoiding disconnect on both ends.

Some women do not share when they begin their fertility journey, and from a friendship standpoint it can seem like they’ve distanced themselves unexpectedly. For those with children, it may be hard for some friends on this journey to be around all of the successful pregnancies, kids birthday parties or baby showers while they’re working through this experience. If something feels off in your friendships, reach out, try asking questions, listen and be supportive in sitting with that friend through their discomfort.

Recognize the pieces of each friend’s life that are meaningful to them and celebrate those milestones. It won’t be the same for mothers as it will be for childless women, but these lifestyle differences don’t have to be the end of the friendships that have been around since before the kids, or a majorly successful career. And while it can be hard to balance everything, prioritizing time to catch up with your friends (uninterrupted) can keep your relationships strong.

Finding new ways to relate or topics to chat about can become increasingly difficult when your worlds look nothing alike. And if a friend is going through an especially difficult time, the hurt of feeling unseen or disregarded can turn into animosity or resentment towards the friendship. Displays of attitudes or defensive aggression must be met with patience and reflection by both people. Tap back into what this person means to you and what the relationship should provide. Maybe even do a little research on what the friend is going through in an effort to understand. Frame these feelings as an invitation to connect and heal can go a long way.

Sometimes friendships do end over these lifestyle changes, and it can be painful to realize that the other person cannot meet you halfway. Navigating these feelings in addition to the grief or struggle that's already present is even more challenging. But stating your intentions and desire to move forward with these friends can be powerful enough to overcome the hard times.

As seasons change, so do our friendships. And sometimes these shifts involve realizing that it’s time to move on from a friendship and break ties. If you currently find yourself mulling over this decision, have been in this situation before, or are about to enter into that space, friendship expert and education Danielle Bayard Jackson can offer some perspective.

In this episode, you’ll learn how:

1. Empathy can hold you back
2. The dangers of maintaining the status quo
3. Fear of your friend’s reaction can be detrimental
4. To shift your perspective on what’s possible
5. The bad can outweigh the good

Danielle Social Links:

• Book a private friendship coaching session here.
• Book Danielle Bayard Jackson -- friendship expert and educator-- to speak at your event.
• We save in-depth resources for our “group chat” members. Join today.
• To dive deeper into these topics and more, be on the lookout for Danielle Bayard Jackson’s book debut: "Fighting for Our Friendships" in the spring of 2024.

When it’s time to break off a friendship, we can begin to experience a mix of emotions. Everything from fear, sadness, guilt, over-consideration to anger and confusion. It’s all warranted because deciding to break up with a friend can be as significant as a romantic relationship. It is important to note that this episode is not saying that you definitely need to break up with your friend. “Too many of us are already ending female friendships prematurely. But in order for us to grow and to make space available, and to make space available in our life, for new friendships, we sometimes determine that a current one is just not working.” – Danielle Bayard Jackson. But deep down, if you know that this relationship has run its course, staying can begin to cause more harm (to yourself) than good. So what’s the holdup?

One of the possible reasons holding you back? Ruinous empathy. You’ll learn more about this tricky emotion in today’s episode.

You may also be delaying a friendship breakup because of the fear of being mischaracterized by your friends and themselves. How does your attachment to others’ perception keep you stuck in tricky situations?

Another reason you may delay breaking up with a friend is because of the fear of the friend's reaction. Anticipating a direct and active breakup with a friend can be jarring, with anxiety and stress growing at the thought of how the conversation will go. But it’s possible. Working with a friendship coach can help you develop a strategy and script that will help prepare you and calm your anxiety before entering into these kinds of conversations.

To learn about 4 additional reasons why ending a friendship may be difficult, please become a member of our “group chat”.  Extended and bonus resources are always reserved for them, because they’re our VIP’s!

Thinking about all of the good that is being lost with the breakup of a friendship can keep us holding on longer than we should, but sometimes ending the relationship is necessary.

Your friendship expert, Danielle Bayard Jackson challenges you with a bit of homework – Think about the main reason you’ve been holding on to a friendship…What has it been costing you to stay?

Better female friendships are earned, and for some, may require a change in behavior and habits. As every one of us is a multifaceted, busy human being just trying their best to remain happy and have meaningful relationships, we may not notice when we’re getting in our own way. So what are some steps women can take to be better friends to the important females in their lives?

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. How to stop and notice the expectations that your friend’s life choices should mirror your own
2. The importance of expressing affirmative boundaries
3. How to set an expectation of direct communication
4. To treat your friendships with just as much love as your romantic relationships

Danielle Social Links:

• You can book a private friendship coaching session here.
• Book Danielle Bayard Jackson -- friendship expert and educator-- to speak at your event.
• We save in-depth resources for our “group chat” members. Join today.
• To dive deeper into these topics and more, be on the lookout for Danielle Bayard Jackson’s book debut: "Fighting for Our Friendships" in the spring of 2024.

If you’re looking to experience more joy, freedom, and depth in your female friendships, these small changes in behavior and approach to the women who are cared for in your life are game-changers. Sometimes friends must lead by example for the relationships that they want to maintain and get life from. 

We Are NOT The Same, and That’s Okay

Research suggests that it IS very important for women to have similarities and symmetries in their friendships. This falls into other areas of our lives like our romantic relationships, but it is interesting to note that this relationship trait is more expected from women than men. So if this research holds, how do women determine when their female friends are no longer fitting the expected mold? Whether it pertains to their health choices, parenting styles, partner, or financial decisions, there’s always at least one moment when one must take a step back and be real – yes, my friend does have different behaviors and opinions than me. This may come as a no-brainer to most. One may think, of course, my friend can make different choices, and I’ll respect the person that she is regardless of whether we have different views. But what happens after that realization? Does one begin reconsidering that female friendship off the bat? Or maybe it happens slowly, through emotional withdrawal, pangs of jealousy, passive attempts at controlling, or underlying judgment. Do these differences begin to diminish the woman’s character? Friendship expert, Danielle Bayard Jackson, challenges everyone to stop and notice the expectation that you’re friends' life choices should mirror your own. 

Express Yourself

If you’re not new, but true to this podcast, you may remember the episode, TikTok, or social posts that discussed the importance of affirmative boundaries in friendships with women. To recap, the action of expressing boundaries to people you care about can come across as rejection, and therefore cause some reluctance to do so. This is where affirmative boundaries shine – give your friends your form of yes instead of a hard, unproductive no as a response. It is possible to erect boundaries that protect your sanity while maintaining an honest and progressive conversation with your friend.

Skip the Passivity

Most women can tell when something is a little off. The ultrasensitive emotional radar begins to beep, but there’s a tinge of uncertainty that one may be reading too deeply into something, or trying to make sense of the subtext and unspoken glances, tones, and feelings. It can drive everyone crazy. One way to combat this? Nip it in the bud and be direct in asking, can we talk about whatever it is that’s going on? Best to address the situation sooner rather than later, and be upfront about the security within the relationship.

Spread The Love

Romance doesn’t have to be limited to relationships with sexual partners. Give yourself permission to enjoy those feelings of excitement, delight, and elation that your female friends bring to life as well. Try practicing direct communication in these moments too – don’t just praise her in your head or to others. Send that just thought of you text or tell that woman how much you love their look. 9 times out of 10, we all appreciate loving gestures.

Female friendships and relationships of all kinds require a level of self-awareness, compassion, and commitment to growth. Do yourself and your female friends a solid and try practicing some of these behaviors that will help nurture the relationships in your life. Rome wasn’t built (or maintained) in a day, and neither are in-depth female friendships.

Ready to get out of the group chat and into a group trip? Summer is approaching, and it’s time to stop talking about the friend-cation and get ready to make it happen. Though, this can be easier said than done, especially when it’s more than two or three female friends trying to coordinate. So what are the best ways to get over the barriers of planning a group trip? 

Friendship expert and educator Danielle Bayard Jackson is joined by Theresa Chu-Bermudez, the Owner of Get Out! Custom Travels, LLC to share some tips and tricks to make trip-planning easier. 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Why a travel advisor helps you take the work out of planning and coordinating

2. Two mistakes friend groups make when planning a trip

3. 3 places to visit this summer (especially if you’re a woman of color)

For more tips, follow Theresa on instagram as well to learn more.

Danielle Social Links:

• You can book a private friendship coaching session here.

• Book Danielle Bayard Jackson -- friendship expert and educator-- to speak at your event.

• We save in-depth resources for our “group chat” members. Join today.

• To dive deeper into these topics and more, be on the lookout for Danielle Bayard Jackson’s book debut: "Fighting for Our Friendships" in the spring of 2024.

Here are a few things to understand before booking your trip: 

Travel Advisor vs. Travel Agent

Travel advisors allow for a more customized trip for you and your female friends, versus an agent who deals in taking orders and doing the booking. And a bonus – travel advisors can help gauge safety and comfort levels for women, people of color, solo travelers and more. 

For the People Pleasers

Without a travel advisor, the group chat can really become a hassle. And this one is especially true for those friends who are the people-pleaser type. Accommodating everyone’s needs and coming to a consensus can take forever, and too many opinions is never as helpful as it seems. 

Overplanning

For women who are taking the lead on coordinating the vacation schedule, this is a common problem to run into. You may be trying to add so many activities during the trip for the sake of keeping busy, trying not to be bored, or making sure that everyone gets to do what they want. In the end, all of your friends end up exhausted with the packed schedule, and may be cranky, grouchy and unable to enjoy the time away. Not planning enough flexibility can make the vacation feel like more work rather than a relaxing adventure.

Remain Objective

Be real with your friends about what each other wants to get out of the trip. Understand each woman’s comfort levels with budget and intention for joining the group.

Welcome to "Girl Problems" a new weekly segment from the Friend Forward podcast. Today's episode addresses a listener question about feeling limited in her friendships because of her lifestyle as an entrepreneur. Tune in as resident friendship expert Danielle Bayard Jackson offers a few helpful insights.

If you want to submit a problem of your own, visit us at ⁠Betterfemalefriendships.com ⁠or on Instagram at⁠ @friendforward.⁠

To book a private session with Danielle, visit ⁠Betterfemalefriendships.com/coaching⁠ and check-out our new "fast track" services.

One common reason women offer for why they don’t engage more in their friendships is because of a lack of time. For many of these women, the lack of time is due to their obligation to manage a busy household. They may have serious “mom guilt” or feel overwhelmed after tending to all of the familial duties that are unnecessarily placed on the women. Women in general, globally, are doing more domestic labor than their male counterparts and it continues to impact their capacity to fully engage in their female friendships.

In this episode, Laura Danger, equitable domestic labor educator, advocate & coach joins your friendship expert and educator, Danielle Bayard Jackson to recognize how much there is an imbalance of shared labor in the home and the ways in which women’s relationships are affected. You can learn more about her work on Instagram and TikTok. 

Danielle Social Links:

• You can book a private friendship coaching session here.

• Book Danielle Bayard Jackson -- friendship expert and educator-- to speak at your event.

• We save in-depth resources for our “group chat” members. Join today.

• To dive deeper into these topics and more, be on the lookout for Danielle Bayard Jackson’s book debut: "Fighting for Our Friendships" in the spring of 2024.

At first glance it may be confusing to make the connection between female friendships and equitable domestic labor (and fair partnership). But take into account that a majority of American households are still dealing with this imbalance. And in cis, hetero-partnerships, women are doing 2-3x more domestic labor on average. The toll this takes directly impacts the ways that women can engage in their friendships – whether it’s having the physical time, emotional availability or mental capacity to deepen new and existing friendships. So what do we do about it? If you’re partnered, a mother, single or childless, there is opportunity for conversation and compassion to have a more supportive domestic and social life.

Understand The System Despite what was told to little girls, research doesn't show women being more capable at nurturing or household duties than men. To change cultural norms, both genders must acknowledge inequity and address the issue, leveling the playing field in the home.

How It Impacts Our Female Friendships Research reveals that women’s friendships are more fragile than men's, breaking under perceived violations. One reason is women's higher household responsibilities, leaving less bandwidth for "elective" friendships. For many overworked women, friendships go first.

Resolutions Within Relationships Develop communication between partners for a standard of care each is capable of. Try Fair Play Method by Yves Brodksy – have clear expectations in domestic partnerships, avoid gatekeeping information, and create opportunities for sharing responsibility.

Resolutions Within Friendships A good conversation with friends helps. Encourage dialogue for support and empowerment. Remind friends that you're there for them and appreciate the relationship.

“Just because you’re capable, doesn’t make you obligated.” – Laura Danger

Reflect on limiting mindsets affecting female friendships and domestic partnerships. Danielle Bayard Jackson offers homework to understand mom-guilt and domestic labor imbalances. Share thoughts with Danielle on Instagram or at betterfemalefriendships.com.