It’s good to build strong friendship in your life with a selected number of people, and it’s not really by the number of friends you have but the strength of friendship you build.
Many friendship die over time, but there are some that keep going, no matter the years and distance that separate them. How can one keep such a friendship going?
1. CHOOSE THE RIGHT FRIENDS
Before you think of building strong friendships, you must first choose the right friends. The right friendship must be with someone you can trust, someone you share similar values with, someone you understand and who can understand you. Building the right friendship is very important.
2. BE READY TO REPAIR MISUNDERSTANDING
Even the best of friends could have misunderstanding, but being able to repair those misunderstandings and moving on from them will only build the bond and understanding the more. Great friendships are built on these.
3. SHOW APPRECIATION
Be someone who appreciates your friend; showing appreciation to your friend for being there for you will go a long way in keeping that friendship going.
4. FRIENDSHIP ISN’T ONE-SIDED
The best friendships are friendships where the people involved aren’t selfish and self-centred; they don’t think only of their own self, but the other person too, and they support each other to be better.
5. AVOID JEALOUSY
Jealousy should never be part of your friendship. If you are jealous of your friend’s success then you aren’t really a good friend. True friends celebrate each other’s success.
6. COMMUNICATE
Building communication should be an important part of friendship, and it shouldn’t be left to one partner. Learn to communicate with your friend, keep in touch with each other, share in each other’s lives and be supportive of one another.
7. MAKE EACH OTHER BETTER
This should be the goal of true friendship — helping each other become better. Helping each other out in life and making each other better persons is a sign of true friendship and it should be the goal of everyone who has a friend.
8. ACCEPT THEM FOR WHO THEY ARE
Accept your friend(s) and love them for who they are. As long as you have chosen the right friend who met the criteria mentioned in the first tip, then you have to accept that person completely and understand that no one is actually perfect. Even when you disagree with their choices, respect their choices.
9. PRACTICE EMPATHY
Treat your friends just how you want to be treated, and try to view things from their own side and understand things from their point of view. You will understand your friends better when you see things from their point of view.
Remember, it’s not the number of friends you have that matters, but the ones you can build good friendships with.
Jake