“F is for friends that do stuff together. U is for you and me! N is for anywhere at any time at all, here in the deep blue sea.” Besides the sea part, these lyrics from a classic Spongebob episode perfectly detail the power of friendship. There are ways that we can make these bonds even more impactful. Intentional decisions to become more aware of our impact in these relationships and ways we can improve our contributions make for a deeper bond with those we care about! Here are a few little things to focus on to become a better friend.
Listen
Toby Keith said the quiet part out loud with his 2001 hit “I Wanna Talk About Me.” Most people love sharing their stories and perspectives, which makes sense as we are who we know the most. But a good friend takes just as much time, if not more, to listen to their peers. Listening not for the sake of service but to truly know those we love and be able to contribute more to this important friendship.
Be Trustworthy
There is a reason why Trustworthy is the first word used in the Scout Law - it’s important! Being able to confide in someone without judgment and with the understanding that this is an A-B conversation so anyone else can C their way out is crucial to having a truly constructive friendship.
Communicate
Although you may get along on most things and seem like a natural fit for a forever friendship, every person still has their own ways of viewing the world and different situations. Communication is a huge part of breaking down these unknown oppositions so that they actually end up bringing us closer together. Pretty cool if you ask me.
Uplift Them
The energy that you put into anything is going to heavily impact the fulfillment and upliftment that you receive in return. This fact especially applies to friendships. You chose to put these wonderful people into your life - why not brighten their days letting them know just how wonderful they are? Everyone wins when we choose upliftment.
Cover image from Hannah Nelson through Pexels
