Your best friend is probably yourself. They’re the one you spend the most time with, and the one always talking to you. However, we all know this can get boring, fast. You need friendships to get you out of your head, to lean on, and to feel like you belong. According to Reach Out, research has shown that the better the quality of your relationships, the more likely you are to be happy.
It’s not easy though to stumble upon a good friend. There are so many times when we aren’t even sure if we have a worthy friendship. Not for long, though, we’ll tell you what to look for in healthy friendships. Some aspects here serve as main factors, but all are definitely important. Check them out, and tell us what you think of what we have to say about good friendships!
1. Open communication
One of the most important keys to having a comfortable, worthy friendship is having open communication. To be able to speak out your heart with no fear. To be able to express yourself when you need help. Also, it would be easier to discuss topics and then agree to disagree rather than blame each other and apologize. If that doesn’t happen, it would create unresolved issues, resentment, and eventually unrepairable distance.
2. Good listener
Sometimes it’s really hard to rely on someone and feel heard. What’s a friend for, if not for that? Active good listeners are not easy to come by, so if you found someone who listens to you, hold on tight to them. Never let them go. If they maintain eye contact with you when you’re talking; if they ask you questions, and if they don’t judge you, then they’re a keeper. That’s how you know you have a good friend.
3. Honesty and trust
To truly know if you have a real friendship, see if you can tell your friend your deepest secret, and still sleep safe and sound at night. No one wants a friend that will make them doubt themselves or feel unsafe. It would be nice to be able to ask for your friend’s opinion that you value about your outfit and trust that their opinions are truthful, rather than go out and embarrass yourself in front of others. Everyone wants someone who’d tell them the truth, who’d point out to them their mistake and save them, and to be able to rely on them completely.
4. Understanding
One of the most fundamental needs of humans is a state of belonging. Sometimes the family we’re brought up with, or the communities we’re put in just don’t feel right. If you want to create your own safe space where you belong, you need to have understanding. It’s crucial that your friends understand your intentions, what you mean when you explain yourself, what your needs are, and how your emotions affect you. Life would be easier when you feel like you belong and find it easy to communicate and just be yourself, whilst being understood and loved.
5. Support
There’s a 100% chance that every successful or famous person had a strong support system. Who’s going to buy your first album, if not your friends? Who’s going to congratulate you for leaving a high-paying job for a low-paying job that you love? Support keeps us standing tall, especially at times of need. If you have friends that understand you and your needs, they’ll provide you with the emotional support and encouragement you need. There isn’t much you can’t do if you have a strong support system.
6. Unconditional love
Finally, the type of love whose lack of hampers friendships. Do you know the kinds of people that only call you because they need something? Bet you do. No one wants to be on the receiving end of this all the time. Everyone wants to be liked and loved for who they are, not for checking boxes that others have set for them. A feeling of true relief is achieved once you find people that accept you just the way you are. They wouldn’t expect you to behave in certain ways, or say specific things, or give to receive. Of course, this is hard to find, because whoever you’d want to befriend unconditionally needs to be a close match of yours.
When you find someone whose vibe matches yours, whose good deeds make up for your faults, and has a good influence on you, hold on to them. Don’t let them go, and know that you’ve made a friend for life.