How to take care of your Friendship

“Friendship is a very important relationship. But not everyone is blessed with one. So, what is the most important component that is vital to a friendship? It is commitment. Commitment is important for all long-term and fulfilling relationships.”

If you wish to cultivate real friendships, you need to be obliged to each other in a healthy and meaningful way. You need to devote energy, time, thoughts, to the needs and desires of your friend. In reward for this, you will get a satisfying and rich relationship for a lifetime.

Let us say that you bought a new car and it has great looks, good mileage etc, but it will not be nice if you do not take care of it. You have to do minor repairs before there is a major breakdown, change the oil etc to keep it running smooth. When you do such minor maintenance work regularly the car will have a long life and would be more reliable.

A friendship is also like that. You have to take care of your friend and your friendship so that it keeps going smoothly. You have to sort out minor problems before they become major resentments.

Here are some of the things you can do to make your friendships healthy:

Be in contact

Connect with your friends in small intervals. It might be difficult for you to get a lot of time to sit and chat with them but you can always make quick texts, emails etc. A very important part of friendship is sharing. Your friends want to know and share important information about his life and your life. It is also true that, with good friends, you will always pick up from where you left but by then you will lose out on several years of companionship.

Don’t keep scores

Don’t calculate and make a profit and loss statement of who did what. You can always make a phone call even when your friend could not manage to. When you give something unconditionally, it often balances out in unexpected ways. There can always be genuine reasons behind why your friend cannot call you back. Friendships will not work if you always try to make it even.

Always be Balanced

It is very important to keep it equal in friendship. Friendship should be healthy enough to shift roles easily. Share your stories and listen mindfully. Do not feel inferior or superior to each other and look up to each other for wisdom and understanding. True friendship is walking side by side.

Maintain Loyalty

Loyalty is the most important ingredient of a good friendship. Do not talk about your friend in a negative way to others. Do not float rumours or gossip about your friend and stand up for each other at all times. Accept the faults of your friend and do not make it a topic to gossip about.

Remember your friend’s birthday

Remember important things in your friend’s life and wish them. Regular small gestures are also as important as special events. Send them a thoughtful card to remind them of how special they are.

Resolve Conflict

Human relationship is not possible without conflict. Do not let small resentments grow into bigger ones. Give each other space and agree to disagree. Work through your resentments than break it off.

Be an admirer

Do not compare yourself with your friend instead be his/her fan. Admire their achievements and appreciate them. Cheer each other up in bad times.

The “Golden rule” for a long-term friendship is to treat your friend as he/she wants to be treated. Pay attention to their qualities and be with them in times of their troubles. Accept the person who your friend is as complete.