When people throw around the phrase "friendship goals," they’re usually talking about Victoria Villarroel and Anastasia "Stas" Karanikolaou. 

The pair first crossed paths through their mutual best friend, Kylie Jenner — Stas as a childhood confidante from their Calabasas days, and Victoria as Kylie’s longtime executive assistant starting in 2015. What began as a shared inner circle quickly evolved into a ride-or-die duo that works, and plays, together. 

Today, co-hosting Better Half with Stas & Vic, they swap everything from clothes to unfiltered life lessons. They're not licensed therapists, but they have a knack for doling out practical, big sister advice built on real-world ups and downs. Below we've documented all the core tenants of their value system, from dating to online dynamics. Take these on, and watch life flourish. 

Forget your ex’s baggage:

The girls have both loved and lost, giving them plenty of authority on the subject of men. In the case of new boys who’ve done bad in the past, they advise being generous. In the digital age, even big cities can feel like small towns, and it’s easy to be influenced by a friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend's experience. As long as a man comes to you with honesty about his previous relationships, you can find a fresh start. Besides, you never know how past mistakes might mature someone. 

Hold onto yourself in a relationship:

It’s easy to get lost in a loved one. You meet, you fall into infatuation, and suddenly, it’s all about them all the time. Sustaining a relationship long-term, or even long distance, means investing in yourself. Independence is so important to keep the spark alive. Take time to go out with friends solo (yes, even to dance!), find your own specific hobbies, journal, travel alone or with friends. Always remember who you are with and without them. Besides, spending time apart will make you miss them more. 

Protect your peace online:

It doesn’t matter who you are, you’ve likely experienced less-than-satisfactory feedback online. It could be a harsh comment or DM, or maybe you’ve had a post perform badly. When it comes to social media, mental wellbeing is of the utmost importance. Block — people, or specific words — whenever the mood strikes, ignore commentary and turn off likes when you don’t want to quantify your output. Finally, post-and-ghost. Seriously, when you share something you’re proud of, return to real life for an hour or two. This immediately deprioritizes content as it relates to your identity, and you’ll be surprised by how immediately free you feel. Be warned, it takes some getting used to. 

Be your own advocate:

Stas has been diagnosed with endometriosis — a famously overlooked condition because, you guessed it, it only affects women. For that reason, Stas and Vic want you to be fierce advocates for your own health and wellness. Your pain isn’t imaginary, and you deserve to be heard. Take control and address any symptoms head on, rather than hoping they disappear. And if your doctor isn’t taking you seriously, push back and demand testing, or find another one who will. 

Trust your gut:

This might feel like a no-brainer, but the Better Half hosts can boil down all their advice to this: listen to your intuition. It identifies red flags immediately, even if your brain wants to rationalize them away. There are numerous instances referenced on when Stas and Vic have ignored the signs and been burnt in the aftermath, so when it comes to pretty much everything — boys, friends, health, work, travel — as soon as even an inkling of doubt arises, explore it. You might find something worthwhile there. 

Shop mindfully:

Like us all, Stas and Vic have fallen victim to a microtrend or two. Before you know it, you’ve click-clacked and impulse shopped your way into a whole new wardrobe that you’ll be tired of by next season. Reallocate your money toward experiences, and if you’re going to invest in clothes make it count. Head to the RealReal or Ebay to shop vintage designer that stands the test of time, then, take notes from Vic and resell. When you keep it circular, you’re not spending, that’s girl math. 

Make time for friends:

Friendship is everything. It outlasts boys, clothes, jobs and even houses. Stas and Vic’s friendship may be founded on fun, but most importantly, they’re always there for each other when times get tough. Remember, to find a village, you need to be a villager — show up when your friends need you, and check in if you haven’t heard from them. Of course it’s important to invest in your day-ones, but also welcome new people into your life — a robust circle of all walks of life is the best way to uncover pathways and patterns.