Recently, I received a request to write a post about friendship. At first, I was stumped. I have some great friends—many of which I’ve had for over a decade —but I wasn’t exactly sure how these friendships had gotten so strong and lasted so long. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that a lot actually went into making these relationships all that they are. Time, effort, and attention had been dedicated to transform relationships, making them incredibly valuable parts of my life.
Friendship is one of the most essential elements for creating a positive life. While one certainly could be positive without friends, it’s much easier to stay optimistic with great people by your side. Being a friend isn’t always easy—there are ups and downs, just like in any relationship—and it actually takes a lot of hard work to create a lasting and meaningful relationship. To have great friends, you must be a great friend; these are some of the vital aspects needed to cultivate that greatness:
STICK WHEN TIMES ARE TOUGH.
Tough times are a part of life. We all go through them, and we all benefit greatly from those who stick by our sides when the going gets rough. No matter how tough things get, great friends stick. When the tough times are going on within the relationship, it can be a very difficult thing to do, but that’s what makes a great and lasting friendship. Even when it’s tempting to throw in the towel, a great friend will stick by your side and do his/her best to work through tough times.
BE EVER ENCOURAGING.
Encouragement is one of the best things about having a great friend. No matter how down or stressed you feel, a great friend will remind you that you’re awesome, that you’re on the right path (as long as you are…), and that you can do it. Great friends don’t stop encouraging you, even when you’ve completed a goal. And they don’t let you forget how amazing you were at getting to where you are now. There are times when that encouragement might seem to fall on deaf ears, but a great friend knows that, even if it goes unappreciated, encouragement is essential to creating a worthwhile friendship.
SPEAK WITH HONESTY.
This part of being a great friend can be tough. People don’t always want to hear the honest truth. But that’s what a great friend does. S/he tells it like it is—even when it might be hard to speak the truth. A great friend will especially be honest about the important things, like whether or not you are being treated fairly or whether or not you should keep doing something that’s dragging you down. Even if the words are hard to say, a great friend will always, always tell the truth…
Read More: Dani Dipirro, positivelypresent.com
