10 Things Your Friends Wish You Knew
1. Your time is the best gift you can give. â In your relationships with others, nothing you can give is more appreciated than your sincere, focused attention. So donât listen with an agenda or the intent to reply. Hear what is being said with the intent to truly understand.
2. You have the power to make a big difference. â Everyone in life wants to be loved and accepted. Your greatest achievements in life will be the direct result of finding this love and acceptance within yourself, and radiating it out to those around you.
3. What makes us different is what makes us special. â Donât be too quick to judge others or bully them for being different. And donât put up with those who call you âa friendâ and then judge and bully you. Let go of the need to prove yourself to everyone else, and youâll free yourself to accomplish what matters most to you.
4. Love is meant to be shared. â So many people save their âloving.â They consciously avoid putting their heart into their relationships, surrendering, opening up, and sharing, because they want to save it all for the right people (best friends, lovers, etc.) But the problem is when the right people come along they donât realize it, they donât know how to open up, and they donât know anything about the act of loving.
5. You have to love yourself too. â The best thing you can do to improve the quality of your relationships is to work on loving and healing yourself.
6. Praise and recognition matters. â Give genuine praise. This is an investment in them that doesnât cost you a thing, and the returns can be amazing. Be sure to follow this rule: âPraise in public, penalize in private.â
7. Small gestures of kindness go a long way. â It seems like such a small thing, but in our busy lives we often forget that a kind word, a helping hand, or just a smile and a quick âthank youâ can create a bright spot in another personâs life.
8. Without honesty there is no friendship. â Honesty is the first chapter in the book of all wisdom. Honesty is the only path forward. Itâs always better to tell people the truth up front. So donât play games with peopleâs heads and hearts. Telling the truth and making someone cry is better than telling a lie and making someone smile.
9. Loyalty means the world. â True love and real friendship arenât about being inseparable. These relationships are about two people being true to each other even when they are separated. When it comes to relationships, remaining faithful is never an option, but an obligation.
10. Reaching out and staying in touch is important. â Stay in touch with those who matter to you because theyâre worth the extra effort. Remember, you donât need a certain number of friends, just a number of friends you can be certain of. Paying attention to these people is always a priority.