are they really your friend?

If you are having trouble deciding whether your friend is a good friend, then there is already signs that your friendship is on the rocks. Friends are hard to come by but true friends are very rare and very rewarding. Luckily they are easy to spot.
Is your friend:

• Supportive and encouraging: true friends make you feel needed, happy and good about yourself. Even if they disagree with you they still have support in bucket loads. They try to be there for you the best they can.
  If your friend gives you complements to make you feel good when you feel down, then it’s a good sign. If they encourage you, even for little things than that is a good thing for both of you. Is your friend your personal cheerleader? Although they don’t always have to cheer you on but if they are a good friend they should be your fan and should always root for your success. If your friend always tries to one up you and never gives you credit for your efforts then they are not a good friend and you should dismiss their attitudes and walk away.

 

• Listening to you: sometimes all you need is someone to listen to you and not say a word just so you feel heard. True friends know when to stop talking and open their ears, as long as you can do the same for them (friendship is a two-way street). They keep eye contact with you while you are talking and ask thoughtful questions when you are finished. If you feel like you are the one doing all of the listening, then chances are you’re not getting your fair share in the friendship. If your friend is looking around the room and checking their phone every time you talk or has no recollection of anything you said when you mention it again they are probably fake friends and are not worth an ounce of your time.
  
  
• Communicating openly: true friends happily share embarrassing stories and secrets comfortably and keep it a secret when you share them back. They’ll pick up on your moods instantly. This is a sign that they care. If you know how to have a mature convocation when your unhappy, then you have strong communication. If you and your friend are comfortable being upfront with each other for example “I was really hurt when you didn’t back me up” then you’ve found a friend worth having. If you feel it necessary to hide things from this friend and you can’t trust them with secrets or big news, or feel like they don’t open up to you, you are dealing with a not so true friend.

 

• Comfortable: If your friend is a true one than you should feel perfectly comfortable being yourself around them. If you feel that you have to change yourself or hide away than this person shouldn’t be in your life. You should be able to completely blossom amongst friends and if you can’t do that then move away from them all together. If you are in a situation that you feel you are stuck with people you don’t feel comfortable with confide in someone you can talk to such as a teacher, a parent, a sibling or another friend you may have. Never stay somewhere you hate being or shouldn’t be because you feel you can’t get out. There is always a way!

 
Lyn