First and foremost, not every friendship will last, and that’s okay. At this point in the year, you may have noticed that you’re not talking as much to some friends, or maybe even that what you thought were your strongest friendships seem a little dimmer than usual. Here are five tips to know when to hold on and when to let go.
1. Understand your relationships.
Often, people confuse their “party” friends with really close friends, or dismiss close friends as less than that. Start thinking about the quality of friends you have – is it a reciprocal relationship, and do you both help each other out when either of you need it most?
2. Know effort when you see it.
It’s important to recognize the effort of friends that hang out with you, because usually that’s synonymous with the fact that they appreciate your company and want to make sure you know that they care.
3. Check yourself!
Self-awareness is HUGE in friendships. Before you make the decision to axe someone, you have to ask yourself if you’ve also been doing your part to keep them around. Nothing is one-sided.
4. Love thy neighbor.
Jealousy in friendships is something that is super common, but not necessarily talked about. It’s normal to want your friends to know how special you think they are, and vice versa. So, while it’s normal, that doesn’t mean it can’t get overbearing or go to the extreme – the other friends that surround the friendship you’re pondering should never be a part of the crossfire. If you or a friend happen to be on the jealous end, that’s something you should have a candid discussion about.
5. Do what’s best for you.
That generally involves listening to your gut. Above anything else, your intuition will tell you which friendships are worth keeping – take heed!