I am sure many of us have read or blogged about this topic before, but I just want to share my experience and I am hoping that we can learn from each other.
Everyone has their own circle of friends and acquaintances, but how can we be sure if those people are true?
There is a certain time that we will be more concerned of who we want to be friends with for the rest of our lives, and I have gathered 4 points to determine if you are in a healthy/true friendship based from other people’s experiences and mine as well.
Note: These may or may not apply to you as we all perceive friendship in a different way, but I hope it would enlighten you somehow.
1. They support you.
In a true and healthy friendship, you can be comfortable in sharing your victories and weaknesses without feeling undermined or judged.
Supporting your friend does not entail you to demand your views on him or her, to the point of trying to change their decisions, preferences, and perceptions. Yes, we can give them pieces of advice and we can share our opinions, but we cannot imply our views as we still walk in different paths. Our role as a friend is to support them with their good and bad decisions, and we must always remember that they should be the ones to decide to change (we are not their parents to begin with. Lol!)
2. They are happy for you. (a.k.a. they are not trying to compete with you)
Your friends should encourage you to pursue your dreams and not try to compete with all your achievements.
FRIENDS SHOULD GEAR US UP.
3. They understand you.
There are times that you do not have time for your friends because of personal matters, work, and other commitments. A friend should be able to understand your disposition and the fact that you cannot share everything in an instant and in full detail.
There are also life experiences that not all your friends can relate to. Of course you would still be made aware about what’s happening with their lives, but there will be a tendency that you will not be well informed. In instances like this, let us remind ourselves that we are not the only friends who they confide with.
4. They give you unconditional love. (I know this is cheesy, but this is important!)
A friendship that accepts you for who and what you are, and knows no bounds. This is the kind of friendship that we all desire.
As we all know, if unconditional love is present everything will follow— respect, understanding, and trust will prevail in the healthy and long lasting friendship.
Header image from Unsplash (Brooke Cagle)
