Hmm.. that’s what frieNDs r 4?
5 Ways to Develop Friendships That Really Count
(taken from Cindy Shaw’s)
Friend is such a powerful word that holds so many different meanings:
confidant, collaborator, instigator, and the person who helps carry you through
difficult experiences and celebrates and enriches the good ones.
As
said by Emily Dickinson, “My friends are my estate.”
How
then do we develop friendships that nurture our spirit and enrich our lives?
By
following these 5 guidelines you can begin developing friendships that will
uplift and inspire you.
1) Be Open Minded
One of the keys to developing a close friendship with someone is to be
accepting of the other person by making an effort to understand where they are
coming from. Since we each have a different set of beliefs and values and live
life in our own unique way, we can always learn something of value from our
friends.
Being
open minded requires that we drop our judgements in favor of understanding.
Although you may not agree with someone or their point of view, you can always
make an effort to understand them.
2) Be a Good Listener
This is a skill few people have developed well. One thing we all need to
remember is that we have two ears that were meant for listening. Too often we
are too busy talking or thinking up our response, that we don’t truly listen to
what someone else is really saying.
When
we actively listen to someone else, we make that person feel important and
special – two ingredients to maintaining a healthy friendship.
3) Be Trustworthy
Trust is a key ingredient to any strong and healthy relationship. When we keep
confidences, are impeccable with our word and walk our talk, we send others the
message that we are reliable, dependable and ultimately trustworthy.
Speak
with integrity and only say what you mean. Avoid gossip or talking about others
and always do what you say. Taking these actions will speak loudly to others
that you are a trustworthy and responsible friend.
4) Be Yourself
One of the greatest gifts you can give yourself and others is you – the
authentic YOU. There is only one of you in this world, complete with your own
gifts, talents and treasures. Your uniqueness is what makes you special and
what others will seek out.
When
you are honest with yourself, you can be honest with others. By being authentic,
you will show your friends that you are not afraid to be who you are and in
part will give them permission to be fully who they are.
5) Set Limits
As with anything in life, it is important to set limits as to what you will and
will not accept in your life. This may mean ending a negative conversation with
a friend or saying ‘no.’ Ultimately, setting limits is an act of self-respect.
When
you set limits with friends, you are sending a loud message that you will not
tolerate things that are not aligned with your life or your spirit. By openly
respecting yourself, others will gain a deeper respect for you.
Well, FYI, being a friend… getting more friends…or likely have a SimPLe FrieND & FrieNdshIp.. is just not being simPLE. Yeah, i meaN things wrItteN bY Shaw mungkIN bs dijadiin "enLighmenT" dikiT kaLI Yah…. To be HonesT, aku juGa bLOm bs sepeNUhnYa "Jadi" that gOod in deveLoping friendshIp. Tp, i guess, the PoinT is… "Be there whEn mY frieNDs neeD me, esp. iN a nOt verY gOod situatiOn!".. Hmm, that’s what frieNds r 4… TrueLY.. 
