Friendship
I was very kindly asked by Cork’s 96fm to participate in The Opinion Line with PJ Coogan and Chat about friendship during lockdown…
Here are some of the main points I spoke about:
There are different types of friendships, some are very close and some might be more aquaintances.
Friendships will come and go as we change, develop and grow through life. Some will last for a lifetime and some will last for shorter periods of time.
There is no set rule when it comes to friendship in terms of how many friends you should have. Some people have wide circles of friends, some have a close circle. Some have very close friends and some have friends who come and go in their life. Friendship is a very individual thing.
Friendship is built upon common ground, connection, shared values and mutual respect.
It is a two- way street and balance is key.
Know what your expectations or needs are within a friendship. Also know what your tolerations are and where your boundaries lie.
Like in any relationship, there is a balance of power. Sometimes there can be an imbalance of that power and one or more may become co-dependent on some level.
You should have an idea as to what you consider to be a healthy friendship and strive for that balance.
Healthy friendships are honest, respectful, communicative, fun and supportive.
When there is tension or feelings of resistance within a friendship, this can cause us some anxiety. We sometimes worry what others are thinking or saying about us. It is really important to focus on what evidence/facts we have for our perceptions or thoughts. Our minds can run away on us and before long we find ourselves coming up with all sorts of worrisome scenarios. Take personal responsibility, open lines of communication and see if you can work together to overcome those feelings of resistance.
You get back what you give out.