"I met Simone* in college, and we are not alike in many ways. Yet she's the friend I call when I'm upset or if I am not sure what to do next, when I want to share a secret or celebrate a success. We look to each other for a good laugh or to cheer one another up. We live many states apart, but we prioritize connecting whenever we can."
"Of course, that's not to say every relationship doesn't have its ups and downs. Recently, Simone and I, along with our significant others, had a heated discussion on a Zoom call over, no surprise, politics. Afterward, my husband was concerned that Simone would not speak to me anytime soon. I remindedhim that our connection was too tight for that to happen; it's highly unlikely we would dismiss each other when we don't agree."
"We want our friends to be people who don't judge or compete with us, and we shouldn't compete with them, he explains. But that's only part of the story. Starting Point Friendships are essential to most people's very being. Good friends help us smooth over rough patches, soothe us in times of chaos, and celebrate with us in times of good fortune."
Close friendships provide emotional safety, protection, and mutual celebration across distance. Conflicts and heated disagreements can occur without severing bonds when connections are strong and friends give each other space. Forming new friendships and strengthening existing ones requires awareness of their value and attention to subtle subtexts. Fragile elements of friendship demand close attention, including avoiding judgment and competition and exercising honesty. Good friends smooth over rough patches, soothe during chaos, and celebrate good fortune. Friendships act as havens for fears, insecurities, and worries and serve as confidantes when needed most.
Read at Psychology Today
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