 We often don’t talk about what we really want from a friend or what kind of friend we want to be. Many happily married people will tell you, the reason why their marriage is successful is because of their strong friendships. As many happily single people will tell you, the reason why they're happy is because of their solid network of support. A truly like-minded and like-hearted individual with whom you share that special alchemy — is a gift. Just like one of the keys to a successful partnership is to learn about what it means to give love, one of the secrets to attracting and sustaining meaningful and rich friendships is to become the friend you wish to have. I love the thought: Be the person you wish to attract. So, I have given it some thought about what kind of friend I want to be and what qualities I would like in a close friendship. So for me, these are a few things that stand out. A good friend: 1. Listens with empathy and presence This is, perhaps, the most important is being present and listening without interruption or offering unsolicited advice. A great friend listens with an open heart, is fully present and asks follow-up questions that indicate the she was, in fact, really listening. 2. Holds space for other When someone is talking about trouble at work, for example, a great friend doesn't turn the conversation to talk about trouble at her job unless it's completely in service of supporting the one who initiated the conversation. There are times one person may be in need of support, and other times you may need support and the space held for you. A great friend is mindful of time and space and acts accordingly. 3. Has good boundaries A great friend is able to keep secrets and is honest. If someone shares something private with you, a great friend doesn't share it with anyone else without explicit permission. 4. Supports others' successes A great friend is a cheerleader. If your friend strikes a book deal, you take her out to lunch. If your friend meets the woman of his dreams, you make time to hear every detail. You take genuine pleasure in others' joy, even if you're struggling to find your own at times. 5. Is vulnerable A great friend doesn't only share what's working in his or her life, but is also willing to share the "shadow" elements. This doesn't mean getting stuck in a victim mentality where you're always complaining, but it does mean not falling prey to the cultural injunction to "put on a happy face." Even if all your friends think you have a perfect marriage, for example, you make sure you share the struggles as well. 6. Makes time to connect Love is action in all relationships, which means it's not enough to say I love you; you need to act in loving ways. A great friend makes time to remain connected through telephone calls and in-person dates (if it's not a long-distance friendship). And texting isn't real communication. It serves a function to communicate perfunctory information, but it doesn't build or maintain true intimacy. 7. Honors commitments If you say you're going to be there at 3pm, be there at 3pm. If you can't make it by then, a great friend communicates that she's going to be late. Being regularly late sends a clear message that your friend isn't important enough to honor a time commitment, even if that's not what you're trying to communicate. 8. Can tolerate another's pain Like #1 above, being able to tolerate your friend's pain is a rare quality. I mean being able to hold a wide and compassionate space for your friend to go through his or her grieving process, no matter how long it takes. A great friend is able to listen to a friend crying without having to say or do anything. The silence communicates profound respect for the depth of vulnerability that your friend is trusting you enough to share with you, and a great friend holds it with care. A great friend is a gift to cherish for a lifetime and is often the lifeline that gets you through the rough patches of daily living. If you've even one or friend who embodies these qualities, count your blessings!
0 Comments
 Last week I was out on my morning run and stumbled across a huge branch on the trail. So I climbed over it and so gracefully got my foot stuck and fell down in the mud! So it had me thinking about having goals and visions then hitting an obstacle on my path and my own relationship with obstacles. From time to time, we all have setbacks, blocks and obstacles on our path to achieving success and living the life of our dreams. We’re told that we just have to be determined, push harder, and strive to overcome these landmines. But does it ever feel like you’re forcing a square peg into a round hole? Like no matter how hard you try, you’re completely blocked? How I faced that branch on my path is typical of how I tackle roadblocks. I climb over them and push my way through them. Yes, my persistence does work sometimes and I reach my goal. I also sometimes fall down in the mud because I pushed too hard. I noticed the times that I stopped forcing and started allowing is when things really started to move for me. This doesn’t mean I don’t take action steps and face the obstacles presented, it’s simply done with less push, force and angst. Blocks can be a great teacher. If you pay close enough attention, you might just be able to create a breakthrough. Here are four ways that blocks can actually lead to success: 1. Blocks point out where things aren’t flowing for you. When you can’t write anymore, your inspiration is gone for the day. When you can’t run any longer, your muscles are exhausted. When you can’t think anymore, your productivity for that meeting plummets. Blocks pop up in areas of our life where energy just isn’t flowing. It warns us that something just isn’t working here and it’s time to take a break, or go a different route. Sometimes that pause can help you reconnect to what your vision is, and sometimes we realize the original goal no longer serves us. 2. It feels unnatural to you. Most blocks come about because we’re forcing something that was never a good fit to begin with. We’re trying to do things the way we’re told they’re supposed to be done or we’re trying to hide certain parts of our personality. So maybe traditional marketing isn’t your thing, but hosting fun parties is and focusing on connection is. Whatever the case, blocks point out when things feel unnatural and encourage us to be more authentic. 3. Sometimes the best way to get through a wall is just to walk around it. We can be so obsessed with an obstacle that we forget why we were trying to overcome it in the first place. Maybe you want a book deal because it will help you get more clients. If the book deal isn’t working, that doesn’t mean you’re doomed to never get more clients. Forget the obstacle and find a new path to your ultimate goal. Many times, obstacles point out that one tiny part of the plan isn’t working, not the whole thing. 4. Lack of resources teaches you how to be resourceful. When you’re unable to move forward, you have no choice but to get creative. The advantage of being pushed to the edge of the cliff is that we learn how to fly. Blocks teach us things about ourselves that we never thought possible and push us to blow our expectations out of the water. So the next time you come up to a block in your life, consider that maybe it’s there for a reason. Maybe it’s there to teach you what comes naturally to you or where things flow for you. Maybe it’s there to help you figure out just how much potential you really have inside. Maybe it’s there to help you stop taking on other people’s blueprints for success and start building your own. Once you realize what you can really accomplish, good luck to anything that tries to get in your way. |
AuthorLife and Leadership Coach, Licensed Counselor, outdoor enthusiast, yoga lover and passionate about wellness. Archives
May 2022
Categories |
RSS Feed
