Just wondering how it might feel to ya, if you phoned a friend or acquaintance and said, "I just wanted (or needed) to hear a friendly voice today," rather than, "I've been wondering how you you're doing."
I think for most humans, we occasionally wanna feel a sense of connection~ and it isn't really about the other, or our concern for 'em. So why do we avoid this type of outreach??
We don't wanna be perceived as having any needs. If you can make the motivation for calling about Them instead of You, doesn't it feel better or more empowering to ya?
Often, when someone calls me wanting to know how I AM, the tone of their voice alerts me that they're needing me to know how They are. Their energetic vibration isn't joyous or light, which comes thru to me instantly.
I am known by my friends to occasionally reach out when I'm simply wanting to hear a friendly voice. We might be on the phone a few minutes, or it could turn into a marathon~ but I always come away from that exchange feeling more contentment and comfort, than when I went into it.
Bottom line, folks~ if you can check in with yourself BEFORE you make that call to a friend, and assess what YOU might be needing, your outreaches have the potential to become more honest and fruitful. I wouldn't lie to ya about this.
Are ya feeling flat or bored? It's okay! Do a couple minutes of deep breathing into those sensations in your body and self-soothe. Are ya feeling isolated? It's okay! Deep breathe and stay the fuck outta your head about it, before you make that phone call.
In short, start allowing yourself to have NEEDS. It's a normal part of the human experience! Barring the possibility you've gone thru life as a fixer, caregiver, rescuer who's been trained since early childhood to be 'other-oriented' and ignore your own feelings and needs, you're entitled to HAVE EM!
Stop shaming yourself for having any needs, and try to adjust to being human for a change! You will benefit from this, and so will your relationships.
Besides, when ya call someone in need of "hearing a friendly voice," they feel complimented you TRUST them enough to be responsive to you! In short, you empower them, instead of making 'em feel like they require your vigilant watch, because you see them as being unresponsive to their OWN needs~ and might that actually be a projection of Your stuff onto Them??