The Ways to Maintain a Friendship

Patience helps to keep friendships strong.

True friendship is one of the most sought life rewards. People go about busily with their own goals, but in the end what makes life meaningful is to know that there are others who truly care for you and who know how to be present even when they are far away. Making friends is easy, but maintaining a friendship is no easy task. Although there are no formulas to keep a friendship alive, through communication, patience, honesty and loyalty, friends may find ways to build their relationships on strong foundations.

Communication

Good communication with friends is one of the key elements to maintaining a strong friendship. People are often lost within their own routines and busy schedules, so it is difficult to tune out problems and pay attention to others. Friendships, however, grow from the realization that friends will maintain a strong presence even when they are physically far away. Making time to call a friend, even when time is short, is a good sign of appreciation. Little things, such as an unexpected compliment or a good night phone call, can make a huge difference in strengthening bonds.

Patience

People have different personality traits and different ways to see the world and behave. Friends, then, have to learn how to deal with each other's differences in order to keep the friendship alive. The task to be understanding is far from easy, but through patience friends become more inclined to listen and to find conciliatory means to solve the problems and other obstacles that may come their way.

Honesty

Being honest with a friend is an important element in maintaining a friendship. Lying in any relationship may give the impression of remedying a stressful situation, but in fact the stress was simply postponed. The truth, sooner or later, finds ways of being revealed, and this might turn what probably was a small problem into a bigger one in the future. Honesty, then, is what makes friends trust each other and build a healthy relationship. It is also important, though, to be honest regarding your personal principles and know when to say no.

Loyalty

Loyalty is commitment, and it represents a mutual contract that under all circumstances friends will remain true to one another. Loyalty does not mean sacrificing personal moral codes in the name of friendship; it is, in fact, a reassertion that friends will be brave to say when they think their partners are wrong or to confess their own mistakes. It is a way of reassuring themselves that they will always care of each other and be true to their own personalities.

References

• Tips on Life & Love; The 7 Qualities of a Good Friend; July 2010
• The Happiness Project; Eight Tips for Maintaining Friendships; Gretchen Rubin