How to keep friendships strong
Friendship is one of the things that make life worth living. If you think about the best times of your life you probably remember something involving good friends. It has been recognized by philosophers for thousands of years that friendship is one of the great foundations of a good life. Friends are more than just a luxury; friendship is a necessity for human life. Those with few friends or no friends at tend to struggle terribly in life. They lack the emotional and social support that we all need to get through this experience. However, friendships can also be the source of real contention and difficulty. Most people feel at times that they wish they did not have any friends, or that they had different friends. This is a natural part of friendship, although it is important to work toward strong relationships. There are some techniques that you can follow to keep your friendships strong and to ensure that they last for years to come.
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One of the first things you need to do to keep your friendships strong is to avoid selfishness. A selfish friend is probably not going to be a friend for long, but there is no reason to weaken a friendship founded on sincere mutual interest. Why would anyone want to separate from someone who only had their happiness and good in mind? Be generous and caring and avoid judging your friends too severely. If your friends feel that you are someone they can confide in the will want to keep your friendship strong.
This also suggests that strong friendships are founded on honesty. Lies will always drive friends apart because any relationship is based on trust. If you want to keep a friendship be upfront with your friends about everything. If a small problem or disagreement arises do not cover it over. Be honest and discuss the problem quickly so that it does not become a more serious issue.
Good communication will also help you to maintain your relationship. If you talk rarely and if your conversations are shallow you won't be friends for long. Speak with each other at least once a week, and be sure to talk about some of your deeper feelings and experiences. It requires a bit of exposure and vulnerability to be good friends. You don't need to tell each other all of your secrets but you should discuss the things that matter to you.
