Tips for a Long-lasting Friendship

ETIQUETTE OF FRIENDSHIP RELATIONSHIP (101)

The etiquette of a long lasting friendship is as simple as doing unto others what you would want them do back to you, and won't be hungry. You need to be;

1. BE SELECTIVE IN ASSOCIATION

You are totally responsibie for the friends you choose, no one chose them for you. Everyone can't and shouldn't be your friend.

1. DON'T OVER HYPE

Your friend is not God, but human being just like you, which means such person is liable to make mistakes just like you.

1. DON'T DISCUSS WHAT YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO BE LEAKED

Not everyone can handle and keep top secrets, they may not leak it intentional or to hurt you, yet it may be leaked. Don't forget that, your worst enemy may become your best friend and your best friend, may become your enemy. So, mind and watch what you say about you and your family to your friends, because the secrets you reveal to them today, will be what some friends will use to insult you tomorrow, in case there is misunderstanding. So, if you must break up with people, break up in peace.

1. DON'T IMPOSE YOURSELF

Friendship is a choice, not by force. Don't impose yourself upon anyone to become your friend or in friendship, stay in whichever position of friendship they put you. Let there be mutual understanding of either being a casual friend or intimate friend. Don't be bossy.

1. DON'T IMPRESS

Don't impress people to become your friend or to sustain your friendship with them. Let them know your weaknesses and strengths, then freely make the choice to either be your friend or not. Be accepted not managed.

1. BE READY TO COMPROMISE

In all relationships, you can't but compromise a little bit, because your friend has flaws just like you do, so there will surely be things or times you will just have to overlook or consent to somethings for the sake of sanity, maturity and true friendship. Let your friends be able to talk to you, perhaps to influence or change your mind.

1. DON'T LEND WHAT YOU CAN'T FOREGO

Money is one of the first categories of things that breaks promising friendship. Whatever money or things you can't forego to your partner, you shouldn't give, but nothing should be too big to give a true friend though, which is where compromise comes in. Before you lend, ask yourself, what if s\he fails to get or give it back, perhaps at the promised time. Also, don't take what you know you won't be able to refund or replace, that means alot to your friend and may not be able to forgive you for.

1. DON'T MOCK YOUR FRIEND

Words are powerful, so choose to always encourage your friends and not disturb and destroy their spirit by mocking them, either in words or act. Don't ever use whatever you have done for them to mock them.

1. PROTECT AND DEFEND EACH OTHER

You are who your friends are. If anyone belittle your friends by name calling or whatever way, the person is actually insulting you too, don't forget that word that says, "show me your friend and I will tell you who you are". So, don't allow people to ridicule your friends, and your friends will be glad to have you.

1. BE SUPPORTIVE

Support your friends in every way possible. Support their dreams and goals in life. Whatever you do for your friends, is actually for your own good. With this, you can win a friend for life.

1. BE COMMUNICATIVE

Nothing like relationship without communication, that is what makes it a relationship. For you to relate you have to communicate, and without communication there won't be understanding and getting to know more about each other.

1. ADVANCE FORGIVENESS

A friend you are not enjoying but enduring is not worth being your friend, in the first place. A friend you endure you won't be able to forgive, but a friend you are enjoying, you will be able to forgive. No perfect being on earth, so to err is human and to forgive is necessary if such relationship must continue and grow.

1. FRIENDS INDEED

Be the friend to you friend, and they also should be your friend, not a one sided relationship, it always boring and tiresome. Make sure the people you are calling your friends also sees you as their friend.

1. CELEBRATE YOUR FRIENDS

Celebrate your friendship and don't forget to celebrate them on their important days, such as birthday, wedding, graduation and Co.

1. NO THIRD PARTY

In as much as you wouldn't want your friends to go telling people about you, perhaps reporting you, keep their own secrets, a secret. Don't hear from outsider to judge your friend.

1. CHERISH ONE ANOTHER

Value your friends. Let their presence and voices mean alot to you and yours to them.

1. NO SUPERIORITY OR INFERIORITY

No matter the age difference, even if your third younger one is older then your friend, but that doesn't make you superior to him\her, or inferior to you. Friendship is partnership between two or more people who have agreed to be mates.

1. LOVE YOUR FRIEND

Loving your friend is a must. A friend should be someone you can spend the rest of your life with, someone that loves and cares for you, as much as you do to him or her, which is one of the reasons it is advised that you marry your friend, because you can never be tired or have enough of your friend that you love.

If you can just be the kind of friend you want people to be to you, then you can be assured of a healthy and blissful friendship relationship.

Source: Ayodotun Babatope ( relationship therapist)