How to Keep Your Friends Close

A friend in need is a friend indeed – how often have we heard this phrase? Quite a number of times but how often have we understood what it means. In the current age of communication and social networking the definition of a friend has undergone a slight change. Now every contact on your Facebook account is a friend. The more ‘friends’ one has the better connected one is. It would be better to call them contacts rather than friends. Henceforth one question that comes to the fore is how to keep your friends close.

For very obvious reasons one cannot share the same relationship with every ‘friend’. Every one has a selected group of friends with whom one can share all joys, sorrows and those little secrets. You can count on these people no matter what the situation. These are your 4.00 a.m. friends and people you have on your speed dial. Considering the significant place they have in your lives it becomes important to learn to keep your friends close.

IS YOUR BEST FRIEND JEALOUS?

How to keep your friends close? Well, close here does definitely goes much beyond the physical sense and embodies a far deeper meaning. Friends are those gifts from god that you get as you travel the journey of life. They may come as complete strangers and gradually acquire a special place in your life. The challenge is to identify these special people and once identified make efforts to retain them.

Empathise

A true friend always understands the feelings of the other. Be it a moment of joy or sorrow you ought to feel that feeling for your friend and be a part of the moment. It is needless to say that if you do not feel any kind of empathy with a particular ‘friend' you ought to think over your relationship. There should be no room for forced feelings.

Communicate

It is not necessary to wish each other ‘good morning' and ‘good night'. Communication between friends may be very occasional. However what matters is the nature of communication and the efforts made to be there in times of need. There may be certain gestures that help you learn to keep your friends close but the emotions always come spontaneously.

Share

What do friends share? No, not everything. What you share with your true friends includes a special bond that you will not share with anyone else. It is this bond that will tell you how to keep your friends close. The moment you decide to share your feelings, thoughts, and special memories and moments you find yourself in a beautiful relationship of friendship.

Be there

You might not be able to make it to a friend's party but make sure to be there in times of sorrow and difficulties. Being there to provide support and a shoulder to cry on are the times that make a difference. These are the moments that strengthen the relationship of friendship and take it to new levels.

Frankness

Being frank and straightforward is a good attitude but not all have the spirit to accept it. If you are a true friend you will not hesitate from giving a very frank opinion in all matters. At the same time learn to keep your friends close and accept criticism with a smile. You must understand that it is a friend giving a frank opinion in order to help you rather than hurt you.

Being Together

Friendship is a relationship that takes time to nurture. A few spats occasionally do not break the bond. You have to make efforts and realise how to keep your friends close. Small gestures, though insignificant, make huge differences.