Your successes are yours. Don't let anyone get under your skin about them. There are good reasons to be grateful for any good fortune that has come your way (e.

Your successes are yours. Don't let anyone get under your skin about them. There are good reasons to be grateful for any good fortune that has come your way (e.g., parents that helped you get through college, scholarships, connections or "ins" that helped you get a job), but those things say nothing about your continued success at your career. As for tactics... It might seem like a monumental task and it doesn't directly address how to handle yourself amongst your existing friends, but how about trying to seek out new friends alongside the ones that you already have? Maybe look at local Meetup groups for people that share your interests (programming? sports?). What about your coworkers? Any chance for socialization outside the confines of the office? Perhaps you'll find people that have achieved similar sorts of successes as yours, such that you won't feel like an outlier. I wouldn't suggest building a complete "bubble filter" around you from the gripes of your friends, but taking their criticisms to heart without seeing what else is out there is also not a great idea. Alternatively, can you open up to your friends about your lack of relationship experience? Can they help you get acquainted with anyone that might be a potential match for you? Relationships are definitely a "try, and try again, and try again" sort of endeavor, so there's little reason to despair no matter how old and inexperienced you feel. Good luck... from one internet stranger to another, you're doing great.