What is the meaning of ‘A True Friendship’?

Being a great friend to someone, and having friends who care about you, love and support you, is vital for your personal growth, and good for your wellbeing. The better the quality of your relationships, the more likely you are to be happy.

Everyone has their definition of “an ideal friend”. You may want a friend who share the same beliefs, interests, values or goals. Or, you might want to spend time with people who are different from you in ways that challenge you to grow.

Friends will come and go in your life, even great friendships are broken off for different reasons. Sometimes, there are misunderstandings about the meaning of friendship.

Love and trust are necessary in order to build rich and long-lasting friendships. When you find a friend whose company you enjoy, and who is willing to tell you the truth, and sticks around when things get tough, then you need to cherish that friend.

It is not always easy to know how to be of help to a friend during tough times. But you can start by trying to understand the situation from your friend’s perception. Ask questions to get an understanding of the problem. The most important thing is to listen to them.

Friendship is not about having all the answers. It is about having someone to talk to, someone who listens. If you are worried about a friend and you want to be there for them, you can ask them what they need. This is a way of offering them support. Even if you don’t live nearby, you can show your friends you are there for them by making an effort to keep in touch through text messages and phone calls.

True friendship shouldn’t be a thing of “something for something” or about expecting “payment” for your good deed. If you can help, then do it without reservation or reward.

You may not know this, but your friendships can shape you. That is why it is important for your friendships to be healthy. A friendship is said to be healthy when the good times overpower the bad times. Are your friendships or relationships healthy? Do your friends often disappoint you or put you down? If the disappointments you are experiencing in your friendships has become consistent or an habit, then you need to find a new definition of “a true friendship”.

A true friend acts as a positive influence in your life, and want what’s best for you. Friends shows that they care by their actions, and will not intentionally hurt your feelings. If I may ask; are you blessed with ‘true friends’? How do you feel when you are with them? Do you look forward to seeing them?

Nurture your friendships, and appreciate the true friends in your life. No friend is perfect, and no friend will be able to do everything for you. Even a true friend will sometimes disappoint you. What matters is your friends’ acceptance of you for who you are, and the positive impact they made on your life.