Here are 11 guidelines for fostering and maintaining successful friendships, drawing from key elements that contribute to strong and healthy relationships:
Friendship Guidelines
| Guideline | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Sharing Joys and Sorrows | Be there for each other during both good times and bad. | Celebrating a friend's promotion or offering support during a difficult family situation. |
| 2. Sharing Laughs and Memories | Create shared experiences and reminisce about them together. | Going on trips together, attending events, and recalling funny moments from the past. |
| 3. Listening | Actively listen to your friend's thoughts and feelings without judgment. | Paying attention when a friend is venting about their work and offering a listening ear. |
| 4. Maintaining Confidences | Keep your friend's secrets and private information safe. | Never sharing something a friend told you in confidence with others. |
| 5. Lending a Helping Hand | Offer practical assistance when your friend needs it. | Helping a friend move apartments or providing a ride to the airport. |
| 6. Standing Up for Each Other | Defend your friend's reputation and support them publicly. | Speaking up for a friend who is being unfairly criticized or bullied. |
| 7. Honouring Pledges and Commitments | Follow through on your promises and be reliable. | Keeping your word to attend a friend's event or help them with a project. |
| 8. Treating Each Other with Respect | Value your friend's opinions and boundaries. | Avoid making disrespectful jokes or comments that might hurt your friend's feelings. |
| 9. Having a Balanced Exchange | Ensure the friendship is reciprocal, with both individuals contributing and receiving support. | Both offering and accepting help, sharing and listening, and giving and taking. |
| 10. Valuing Connection and Autonomy | Balance the need for connection with respecting each other's independence and personal space. | Understanding when a friend needs time alone and not taking it personally. |
| 11. Apologizing | Be willing to admit when you are wrong and offer a sincere apology. | Saying "I'm sorry" when you've hurt your friend's feelings and making amends. |
These guidelines, inspired by the importance of sharing, listening, and respecting each other, can help to build and maintain fulfilling and lasting friendships. Successful friendships involve sharing joys and sorrows, sharing laughs and memories, listening, maintaining confidences, lending a helping hand, standing up for each other, honouring pledges and commitments, treating each other with respect, having a balanced exchange, valuing connection and autonomy, and apologizing.
