Friendship

The word “friendship” itself defines how valuable and precious it is. Simply put, friendship is life. There is nothing without friendship, and life becomes dull without friendship. So, friendship needs to be given top priority in our lives. As a human, life is not homogeneous all the time. Life isn’t just about wonderful days; it’s also about awful days. So, friendship is here to make good times better and hard times easier. Whatever the circumstances, friendship endures until the dying breath.

For many of us, a friend is someone with whom we are connected and who is there with us in a certain way. A companion is often someone with whom you have a bond. Friends may share some shared opinions and ideals, and a friend is often someone you believe in and enjoy having near. Friends might be in person or online, and their distances can vary. You can have a friend next door or a friend hundreds of miles away. You may feel more intimately connected and able to rely on close friends for help. You may be able to converse, laugh, and share freely. This friendship can appear quite trustworthy, and this person may make it simple to resume where you left off. Strong relationships and loyal friends can frequently withstand the passage of time. These bonds are frequently formed through mutual respect and concern for one another’s well-being.

“If your best friend is not jealous of your other friends, you don’t have a best friend.“

Because human nature is capable of determining between good and bad things, friendship is also about selecting good friends in order to sustain positive relationships between people. We must be able to choose our companions intelligently because we are products of our surroundings.

“True friendship is not when you tag them or post a picture with them. It’s when you go weeks without talking and are still best friends.” True friends are difficult to find, even more difficult to leave, and impossible to forget.

The word ‘true’ is always true and can never be removed. Nowadays, true friends are harder to find. So, if you are getting a true friend, then hey, you are the luckiest person in this world and don’t forget to make the most of it.

Merits of Maintaining a Good Friendship

• Enhance your sense of purpose and belonging.
• Increase your pleasure while decreasing your stress.
• Increase your self-esteem and confidence.
• Assist you in coping with traumatic events such as divorce, chronic sickness, loss of employment, or the passing away of a loved one.
• Encourage you to modify or prevent bad lifestyle behaviours like binge drinking or a lack of physical activity.

Moreover, friends are very important for maintaining your general health. Adults who have strong social relationships have a lower chance of numerous serious health issues, such as depressive disorders, hypertension, and a low body mass index (BMI). Indeed, studies have demonstrated that older people who have significant relationships and receive social assistance live longer than their colleagues who have fewer connections.

“When a friend leaves you, you move on. When a best friend leaves you, part of you is gone.”

Ways to find new friends

One can make new companions and strengthen current ones by:

• Keeping in touch with people you’ve worked with or studied with
• Reconnecting with previous friends
• Making contact with people you’ve met at social events
• Getting to know your neighbors
• Taking the time to communicate with relatives
• Reach out to everyone who comes to mind as someone you’d like to get to know better. Suggest that common close companions provide the person’s contact details or reunite the two of you by text or via in-person visit. Invite someone to coffee or dinner.

You must travel to areas where others are congregated if you want to meet new people who might become your pals. Don’t limit yourself to just one method of meeting new people. The larger your attempts, the more likely your success.

Determination is also important. Instead of waiting for invitations, take the initiative and keep trying. It may take a few suggestions before you can tell if your enthusiasm for a new friend seems similar.

“The greatest gift of life is a true friend who understands the real you.”

Nurturing Friendship

Be considerate: This fundamental conduct stays at the heart of good relationships. Consider friendship to be the emotional savings account. Each act of compassion and every expression of gratitude adds to this account, whereas criticism and negativity diminish it.

Be an attentive listener: Inquire about what’s going on in their lives. Let the other person know you’re listening by making eye contact, using facial expressions, and making quick comments like, “That seems fun.” Be sympathetic when friends share specifics of terrible times or events, but don’t provide counsel until your friends specifically request it.

Allow access: Increase your intimacy with people you know by telling them about yourself. Being prepared to share your own stories and problems demonstrates that you value your friendship and may enhance your bond.

Demonstrate your dependability: Being reliable, dependable, and trustworthy is essential for developing strong connections. Keep your appointments and show up on time. Keep your end of the bargain with your pals. Keep friends’ private information from the public.

Make your availability known: It takes time to develop a close connection. Make an effort to see new acquaintances on a regular basis and to stay in touch with them in between meet-ups. You may feel awkward the first few times you call or meet, but this will improve as we get closer to each other.

Lastly, friendship is a very important part of this beautiful life. We are God-given, but friendship is another precious God-given gift that everyone receives. The main thing is how it is taken. It is in our own hands whether to utilise it or neglect it.