11 Rules To Keep Friendship Strong

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Man is a social animal and let us accept it, we all need friends. Most people fall out with their friends as they get married and settled down in life. There is no harm in making new friends provided you build strong friendships. You can keep your friendship strong and endurable only if you follow certain basic norms. What keeps a friendship strong is the right balance of privacy and intimacy.

To keep your friendship alive even after you get married or move to a different place, you need to put in some effort. When you plant a seed, you have to water it and nurture it so that it grows into a plant. You cannot allow your friendships to lie unattended. You need considerable nurturing to keep your friendship strong so that it last.

WAYS TO RECOGNIZE A BAD FRIEND

To maintain a friendship, there needs to be effort from both ends. You cannot keep friendship strong unless you try to build strong relationships with your friends or you will find yourself alone one day. We allow our friends to slip away until one day we feel like going out and realise that we have no one to call. That day, you feel like the loneliest person on earth.

So always try to keep your friendships strong so that you have someone to fall back on.

Be A Good Listener

If you keep talking all the time, then you will end up with very few friends. Try to listen to people more than you talk so that you end up with the right kind of friends.

Choose Friends Wisely

Don't make friends for the heck of it. Some people make friends just to drink together or have a car pooling or because they are lonely. You can only be friends with people with whom you share a connection.

Trust Your Instincts

You have to trust your instincts when it comes to making friends. Do not let other people influence you and never fall prey to misunderstandings.

Make Time For Your Friends

We all are busy these days and you literally have to make time for your friends. However, just like you find time to meet your parents, girlfriend/boyfriend and siblings, make it a part of your duty to meet your friends and spend time together.

Respect Your Friends & Their Privacy

Sometimes, the only way to respect your friends is to respect their decisions even if you do not agree. For example, you may not like the girl your friend is dating but you have to respect his choice because that is the girl who makes him happy.

Always Tell The Truth To Your Friends

You must always be honest to your friends even at the cost of offending them. For example, if your friend asks you whether he should propose to a girl and you think he shouldn't, then you should say so. Real friends are like mirrors, they often tell you what you know but don't want to believe.

Wait For Your Friends

Your friends sometimes get tied up in life and cannot meet you often. Sometimes, they might miss the important events in your life like your wedding or the birth of your child, but you must not think they are ignoring you and keeping a grudge.

Learn To Apologise, Forgive & Forget

You can make mistakes in friendships just like you make mistakes in other relationships. Learn to say sorry when it is necessary. You must also give your friend the same levy to make mistakes and be forgiven.

Don’t Have Ego Wars

Ego is the worst enemy of relationships. Be it romantic relationships or friendship, you must never let ego come in the way. Friendship is an equal relationship, so don't try to outdo each other.

Help Your Friends Without Any Expectations

Always lend your friend a helping hand in his/her hour of need. However, don't do this with the expectation that your friend ‘must' do the same. The feeling of friendship should not be selfish one.

Don’t Allow Spouse/Partner To Choose Friends

You often start drifting apart from your friends after your spouse or partner comes into your life. Never allow this to happen. Remember, your friends were there with you before your partner came into your life.