Friendship

Making, having and keeping friendships is an important part of our everyday lives. Friendship is not an easy part of our lives though, we all place different meanings on friendships. It can be hard to keep our eye on the bigger picture when our friends are around us everyday, for example at school.

Here are some top tips to remind us how to create lasting friendships and maintain friendships we already have.

Inviting friendship

“Friends make people happy and happy people make more friends” Its true even when we feel down or fed up it is important to keep going and try to remember that if we need or want the support of others we need to be approachable, very few people will want to talk to a grump!

If you are feeling low or are having difficulties with family or friendships do not suffer in silence, call for advice, there are many places that can help click here for sources of support and guidance

As young people you are more likely to find rewarding and life-long friendships with people who enjoy the same things as you. Why not try and find a hobby or activity you like and join a local group. It could be anything from sports to crafts; from music to reading there are so many groups to share your interests with.

Having meaningful friendships takes effort and thought. The popular person with 100 friends may not be as a happy as the person with just a few true friends that they can rely on. Friendship is not the same as a popularity contest.

Having friends is fantastic and can really help when we feel down or need some help. It is really important though that we look out for our friends and repay them for the times they have made us feel good about ourselves. Here are some top tips on maintaining the friendships we have already.

Maintaining Friendship

Think of friendship as a bank, you can take money out of an account just as you can rely on your friends but if you never pay money into the account one day when you need to take some money out or you turn to your friends to be there, the funds will have gone. Invest in your friendships even if it is something as simple as telling them how much you appreciate their time, effort and friendship

Think about what it is in your friend that you like, why or how did you become friends? Remember these things and try to show them in yourself. You should look up to your friends so if you want them to look up to you try and reflect the qualities you like in them.

We all have days when we are not the best company and things can get a bit too much. If one day it is you that is feeling a little tetchy remember that the people around you won’t know this try and take comments in the good will they are intended. If your friend is having a bad day then remember this happens to us all. If you are offended or hurt by the way something is said, ask yourself why they may be feeling down and try not to take one off comments too seriously.

Being forgiving and easy going does not mean you are the only one who ever lets things go. Friendships are vital because they make us feel happy and appreciated. If the friendships you have don’t make you happy then maybe you should take some time to evaluate your friendships and work on valuing some of the people you haven’t spoken to in a long time.

It is hard to always get along with the people who mean a lot to us, School is a fantastic part of our younger lives but seeing the same small groups of people five days each week can take its toll on the most easy going people. Try to relax and appreciate your friends.