There are a significant number of us that admit that when it comes to our social circle, that we could be doing it better, making deeper connections.
And there are those amongst us, and I know, because I was one, where our social circles have fractured through circumstance or through our own actions.
Like all our life areas, we can take back the design control and then where we need to, we can repair, enhance and elevate. The key though, is that, like all things in life, everything is connected, and when it comes to our social circles, so many of our life areas intersect and impact our ability to forge friendships and maintain them.
What we seek in others is what they seek in us. The characteristics we desire in friends have to be embodied in ourselves first[1].
- Acceptance of ourselves and others.
- Calling out our own and others negative behaviours: our own accountability radar.
- Being fully focussed and present in our interactions.
- Providing support to our friends when they are in need (and being our own most positive supporters in the most negative times).
- Humility.
- Prioritising time to foster the friendship.
- Compassion.
When I look at this list, I think to myself, a person who embodies these qualities, is certainly someone I’d want to find more about, about the commonalities across a whole spectrum of areas, that could ultimately result in such a rich connection, a rich friendship.
When I look at this list, there are the qualities that I’d hope that I demonstrate. That people would see in me. It’s a list that not only are key foundation elements to enable the successful development of relationships on any level, but also a guide to being a better person.
[1] https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/qualities-of-real-friends_n_5709821
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