Tips for becoming a better friend
Friendships are one of the most rewarding things that you can have in your life. Friends know us well and help us get through hard times. Friends are there to talk and to listen. A good friend takes time to develop but once you have made the effort it is almost always worth it. You cannot put a price on a true friendship because some friendships are truly priceless. Friendships, like anything else of value, must be constantly nourished if they are to stand the test of time. Below are just a few tips for becoming a better friend.
Become a better friend to your spouse - Why is it that sometimes we treat our casual friends better than our spouse? There are times when tempers are lost and things are said that we would never say to a co-worker or a neighbor. Therefore it is important for each one of us to be reminded that one of the most important friendships to keep in mind is to be friends with your mate. Friendship should be the building block of a life-long relationship. Most people would agree that two people are friends before they are companions in marriage. This friendship is never replaced it is just supplemented by the other blessings that come from being man and wife. Do not forget your best friend and let your spouse know how much you love him/her and enjoy living with your best friend.
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Be a good listener and a good conversationalist -Good friends are often those who we can go to with our worries, our questions and who we can trust to be our advocates. A huge part of being a good friend is to be able to give your friend the support that she is looking for. We are all aware of how important it is to be a good listener, but we may not be as skilled at being a good conversationalist. Many of us have a tendency to want to talk about ourselves and our own problems. A good conversationalist knows when to talk just for the benefit of a friend. A friend who comes to your for advice wants to know that you have been listening to her side of the story and that the suggestions that you give her are what you think would genuinely be in her best interest. You can be a better friend by being a little more selfless.
Becoming a better friend takes time - Many friendships are able to work when both people are very busy. Life demands a lot of our time and sometimes we have to sacrifice time with friends in order to take care of our own families and livelihood. If you want to improve your relationship with a friend, you have to be willing to sacrifice some time. This does not mean that you have to leave work early in order to go fishing with your buddy or that you should spend every night consoling a girlfriend. What is does mean is to consider small ways that you can make your friend's day better. Taking a few extra minutes to write your friend a note or to say a quick hello over the phone does not take a lot of time away from your schedule but many times it is just enough to let your friend know that you are thinking of her and in doing so your friendship will be better off.
Be the friend you would want to have - If you want to develop your friendship with someone ask yourself what you would like for your friend to do for you. Many times when we do to others what we would like done for ourselves we not only see the good others feel but we often receive a return of our increased efforts. Becoming a better friend does not have to be difficult if you know how to be considerate. Simply thinking about what your friend may need or want at any given time is all that you need to see your friendship develop even further.
