Friendships are lifelong investments that add value to your life. Good friendship makes you feel happy and free. You share precious moments together and develop a bond so that friendships can grow stronger. It is up to you to nurture your friendships so that they can last a lifetime. Like any other relationship, friendships require you to invest a lot of time and effort. A great friendship will withstand the odds and survive no matter what comes at them. True friends add value to you and make you a better person.
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What makes a friendship strong?
A strong friendship is built on trust, loyalty, and respect. You can tell this person anything without feeling judged. The trust has been cemented over the years. If you go through your darkest moment your friend will be there with you to comfort you. You can share secrets, and dreams, and build a bond with each other. It’s as if you and your friend have an unbreakable bond.
15 Ways to build a great friendship
Communicate
It is true that a lack of communication can end a friendship hence it requires work. Technology has made it easy to reach people anytime and anywhere. You have no excuse not to reach out to your friends and talk. Check on your friends and let them know that you care about them.
Accept
You cannot change a person for who they are and you have to accept it. We all have different personalities and preferences. Sometimes we have shortcomings and flaws. Accepting your friend for who they are is an important step when building a great friendship. This will make them comfortable around you.
Forgive
No one is perfect and people will do you wrong. You will need to forgive and let go if your friend hurts you in any way and this is very important if you don’t want the friendship to end. Discuss and talk about it instead of ignoring the person. They deserve to know what they did wrong instead of the silent treatment. After you talk about it, hopefully they won’t do it again.
Encourage
Encourage your friends to pursue their dreams or do the right things. Ultimately, you will be appreciated for doing this. We all need motivation at times, which is an essential role every friend should play. Be a motivator and an uplifter. Friends have the power to influence and use that power in a positive way.
Listen to your friends
Always give a listening ear when your friends need to express their feelings. A genuine friend is someone you can call at any time. If they are busy, they will call you back at an appropriate time and listen to their friends concerns. Sometimes we need to let out emotions and we need someone to listen to us. This is a very important role you should play if you want your friendship to last.
Compliment
Everybody likes compliments, and so does your friend. Compliment your friend on their achievements. This will show them that you are happy for them, and they will be motivated to make you proud.
Be honest
Honesty is important in all relationships and even friendships too. Your friends will be able to trust your word. If you lie to them, they will feel betrayed and lack of trust can damage your friendship.
Respect
Treat your friends with respect. Disrespecting a friend will weaken your relationship and even cause it to end. Respect your friend’s values, dreams, family, and religion. Do not say hurtful things to your friend.
Be reliable
Your friend should be able to count on you. If you say you will do something, then stand by your word. Don’t make promises you cannot keep. You should be a reliable friend.
Spend time together
It doesn’t matter how busy you are, try to spend time with your friend. It does not have to be regular but now and then. Invite them to lunch when you are free to catch up. Face-to-face interaction is important in building your friendship.
Be open
Share your values and secrets with your friend. They will get to understand you more and feel valued when you confide in them. Opening up can create a bond. Share updates on your life so they can feel like they are a part of it.
Trust
In all relationships, trust is important. If somebody says something odd about your friend and your friend denies it, you should be able to believe them. After all, you should know your friend well.
Do crazy things together
Sharing happy moments together can strengthen your friendship. You will build a bond as you remember happy times together. Go hiking, and spend your vacation at a dream destination. Having fun will spark your friendship.
Show appreciation
Don’t take your friendship for granted. Show your friends that you appreciate them. Send them gifts for special and non-special occasions. It doesn’t have to be expensive, a simple text telling them you are glad they are a part of your life.
Be loyal
Do not replace your friends with someone else or a relationship. Be faithful and devoted to the friendship. A loyal friend is more precious than diamonds.
Wrapping it up
If you want to have a great friend, then be a great friend by following these 15 tips. Good and genuine friends are hard to find. If you have a great friend, then never let them go.