Although every individual has family or parents they can be close to or form a tightly knit bond, we still need a friend to share feelings with. As individuals, we need best friends that will always be with us; someone that will be with us with no strings attached, no expectations, and just support and care for one another. According to the happiness project by Gretchen Rubin, studies show that “if you have five or more friends with whom to discuss an important matter you’re far more likely to describe yourself as ‘very happy.’” Not only does having strong relationships make it far more likely that you take joy in life, but studies show that it also lengthens life expectancy (incredibly, even more than stopping smoking), boosts immunity, and cuts the risk of depression.” Finally, like any other relationship, friendship requires some work to maintain them and to help them grow to blossom. Here are some great tips I’ve used to develop a strong friendship with my friends; I hope this helps.
Express gratitude
Sometime, when we know someone for a while, we usually take them for granted. Now, like any individual, we all need someone in our lives to tell us “good job” or to show some sort of appreciation so we feel better. My advice to you would be to tell your friend how much you appreciate them. How you portray your appreciation doesn’t have to be a monologue; it can be anything as easy as just saying “thank you.” Other ways that I’ve exercised my gratitude include:
- Returning favours when a friend goes out of the way to help me out.
- Buying gifts or doing things that put them in a cheerful mood.
Build a relationship founded on trust
Building trust is a very easily developed characteristic in a strong relationship, but in your relationship you have to constantly show each other that you can be trusted and be depended on as friends. But at the same time, as your relationship grows, it is usually common for friends in the relationship to share private information with each other. If your friend tells you their secret it is because they put their trust in you. So many relationships have been ruined due to lack of trust, but other things you should do include:
- Try, try, try as much as you can not to gossip about your friend because it can hurt his or her feelings and end up damaging the relationship.
- No matter how small the promise is, always keep your promises. It is better to say no to something at that moment than to cancel it last minute.
Support each other when times are rough
There will always be times and situations that we can’t handle ourselves, as a result, we need friends. Now although it will not always be fun, sharing your problems in these situations is a point in which a friend is vital. Some things you can do to help each other through rough times include:
- Show your support by complimenting them and just tell them that you are there to help if they need any.
- Listen closely to what your friend has to say. The problems of your friend might be either personal or family problems, so try to portray to your friends that you are always there when they are emotional.
- Take your friend out or just spend sometime with them to go watch a movie or just go for a stroll in the park to take their minds away from their distress.
Let go and don’t be afraid or proud to apologize
When you do something wrong, don’t feel proud, just admit it. I know it’s usually human nature for us to avoid apologizing, but you should learn to apologize. At times, when a friend is upset because you somehow upset them, all you should say is “I’m sorry.” Saying sorry shows that you realize your mistake and will hopefully avoid making that mistake in the future. Also, if your friend hurts you, you should learn to let go and move on. Trust me, I’ve gone through this because if you don’t move on, it will weigh on your shoulders so heavily that you will only hurt yourself.
Make time for your friends and have fun with each other
Lastly, what you have to do is to have fun and make some time for friends. Try to spend some time with your friends even though your schedule might be quite hectic. Show your friends that you want to be around them by chatting with them via text, calling them, or planning a weekend together to hang out. Although intuitive, we might only use friends as a source of just emotional support, but you should also find time to enjoy their company. Take time and go out with your friends to do something fun that both of you can enjoy. Making time for your friends sends the message that they are an important part of your life. And also, it’s always great to have a friend with whom you can be open with, but just lighten up and let loose.
- Call them up to ask if they want to hang out during the weekend to go watch a movie, volunteer, or even play games together.
I truly hope that these tips help you maintain or even enhance your relationship with your friend or friends.