How to maintain a friendship?

Step by Step Instructions
Difficulty: Easy

Step 1
Be an equal contributor to the friendship. Make sure your intentions are one of a giving nature, and not one of expectation. This means you are willing to give to the relationship so that it grows, and that the giving should be mutual. You do not want a one-sided friendship where you are constantly giving of yourself, while the other person sucks all your efforts dry without contributing.

Step 2
Learn to listen. Sometimes, a friend is not looking for an opinion or advice, but rather a sounding board to vent to. They often know what they need to do and have to do, but being able to express an uninterrupted thought may help them arrive at a more positive way to handle the situation. Of course, there will be times where a friend will elicit your non-judgmental advice, and then you want to give them the responsible words that will help them through the circumstances.

Step 3
Inspire and encourage your friend. A true friend will be the other person’s best cheerleader. They will encourage them to make responsible decisions and motivate them to be the best person they can be.

Step 4
Be tactful when pointing out a friend’s mistakes. You have to realize that they may not be aware of the mistake they made or may have felt justified in what they did. Use a good example, be sincere and honest, but do not harp on the situation till you are blue in the face. You will both wind up walking away with hurt feelings and a possible loss of friendship.

Step 5
Try not to be a clingy, needy and controlling friend. A healthy friendship needs breathing room, and a quality friendship will withstand the test of time and distance. Sure, you may enjoy spending time with this person, but you do not want to stifle the friendship by being with them all the time.

Step 6
Make sure you are reliable and can be counted on. In other words, saying you will be somewhere, means you will be there, and, when you cannot be, you are courteous enough to contact them ahead of time.

Step 7
Know when to agree to disagree. It is okay to have differences of opinion, because that is what makes each person in the friendship unique and interesting. But, arguing over little things that are really insignificant and petty can and will destroy the friendship.

Step 8
Learn to keep private information private. When a friend confides in you with private information, it should remain between you two and not be blabbed to anyone else. Unless, the private information is something that leads you to believe the friend is in danger or in a harmful situation, then you should help them seek out help. This may involve seeking the advice of a third party, a professional that can help you best assist the friend.

Step 9
Share and celebrate successes, milestones and accomplishments, as well as be the shoulder for the not so good times. Who better to share the good and the bad with than a friend?


"Tears may come and go,
But there's one thing I know.
All my life you're a friend of mine.
You can depend on me.
I'll be fine...
'Cause you're a friend of mine."
-Clarence Clemens