Giving and taking is an important part of developing and sustaining strong friendships. At times, you may be the one providing comfort, and at other times, you may be at the receiving end.
Friendships can be strengthened by expressing your concern and appreciation for them. It’s just as important for you to be a good friend as it is for you to have great friends. We all have different types of friendships with different people where we face a lot of ups and downs as a friend. But have you ever thought about nurturing your friendships? If not, we got your back!
Quality not Quantity
The first and foremost way to nurture your friendship should always be to make fewer but real friends. It’s difficult enough to maintain one or two friendships, but maintaining a dozen “best pals” can be tiring. Think about which of your connections brings you the greatest joy and devote additional attention to maintaining those bonds. Allow casual acquaintances to remain as casual acquaintances.
Let’s be honest, if you have three real friends who love you and understand you the best, why would you need ten different people for that?
Be Kind
We cannot stress this enough when we tell you that kindness goes a long way in any relationship. Don’t you think the same? Successful relationships are built on the foundation of kindness. Consider friendship as a savings account for your emotions. This account gets credited with every act of kindness, and statements of gratitude, while criticism and negativity deplete it.
Be a Good Listener
As much as your friends are there for you to listen to your rants, they are expecting the same from you! Randomly ask about what’s going on in their life to keep a check on them. Be sympathetic when your friends share specifics of terrible times or experiences, but don’t provide counsel unless they specifically request for it. Some of your friends are only looking for your shoulder to keep their head on! After all, we all need someone to tell us it’ll all be okay, don’t we?
Show That You Can be Trusted
Forming good friendships requires being responsible and dependable. Ensure you keep the promises you have made to your friends because that’s what real friends do! When you and your buddies discuss confidential information, keep it private instead of going on and telling it to other people.
Make Some Time for Your Friends
Yes, your schedule is already jam-packed, but you still need your girl-gang (or bros). What’s better than a gossip session with your friends? We all need a reality check from time to time! There will never be enough hours in the day to do everything you need to do, but you must schedule time for friends where you can rant about all your day-to-day situations and get the most realistic solutions.
Don’t Take Things Personally
When a friend cancels, it’s usually due to a lack of availability or personal concerns. Instead of assuming the worst-case scenario, such as “I’m unlikeable,” recognize your worth. If someone consistently disappoints you, you may not want to invest in a long-term friendship with them (they aren’t worth the heartbreak!).
Remember That Most People Are Nice
If you had a terrible childhood, you might not have seen the best characteristics of human nature up close and personal, and you may be fearful of rejection.
Although the world is filled with suffering and rage, most individuals are empathetic and enjoy assisting others. It’s exceedingly uncommon that someone appears to have it all together; instead, it’s a successful disguise. On the other side, human nature’s imperfections bind us together and maybe a major source of support and encouragement.