Tips on Maintaining Friendships & Romantic Relationships

Always be Available Let the friend know that you are always available in the time of a crisis. This may be during real problems caused by illnesses, accidents and the like, but can quite often just be the availability of a shoulder to cry on. Never turn your back on a friend. Trust Must be Implicit Trust your friends in everything that touches your lives or times together. Always believe in their goodness and let them know that you have the complete faith in any action taken by them in any matter concerning your friendship. Do not Believe Rumors Keep an open mind especially where it concerns your friends. There are always people in this world who take vicarious pleasure in spreading half truths and lies. There is no harm in keeping an open mind and going the extra distance to find out the actual circumstances which can be quite different from what you have heard. Keep Money far Away Let any dealings with money not come in between your friendships. Good friends would always be very aware of this and would never make any monetary demands of a friend. Accept your Friends as They are Never make physical appearances or any other personal attributes any part of a friendship. While gentle suggestions to lose weight or inches can be made, they must be made with an assurance that it would benefit the friend concerned and would have no effect either way for the way you continue in the relationship. Share Confidences The stress in today’s modern day life quite often requires a safety valve for a person to have so that they can share their problems and feelings. Use your friend as some such safety valve and always remember that the need is mutual and that the friend should be aware that you are available to return the compliment any time the need is felt. Also remember that these confidences are meant for you alone and not to be shared with the world in general. Be Kind to a Friend Showing kindness to a friend is no great act of altruism. You would get back this kindness in equal measure and probably benefit from it. Never criticize a friend, unless you are asked for a definite opinion. Even when this is asked for make sure to imply that your opinion has no effect on the friendship that you have. Be Flexible Friendships can cause certain strains on time and emotions, and one must learn to be flexible enough to convince the friend that making that adjustment is no big deal. Give advice only when it is solicited. Of course if you do see the friend making a decision that you know is disastrous, it becomes your duty to point this out, however harsh the truth. A friendship requires that you give to it as much as you expect from it. And if you do make an effort to become an ideal friend, it is more than likely that your friends would be more than glad to meet you halfway and ensure that your friendship makes your life more than just an existence.