THE 15 SIGNS OF FRIENDSHIP
- THEY ONLY CONTACT YOU WHEN THEY REQUIRE SOMETHING.
All friendships should be equal – that is, you should get as much as you put in, and everything should be founded on reciprocity and mutuality. If you’re putting in more than you’re receiving out, you might want to reconsider what they’re asking.
- THE CONVERSATION IS NEVER ON AN EQUAL STANDING.
Do you notice that while you’re hanging out with them, you spend all of your time thinking about them? That’s not cool — we all have concerns and issues we’d like to discuss with someone.
- THEY MAKE FUN OF YOU IN FRONT OF OTHERS OR PUT YOU DOWN.
This is a no-no. People usually do this because they are unhappy with themselves and wish to distract themselves with someone else. Put an end to any friendships like this right away.
- AFTER SPENDING TIME WITH THEM, YOU FEEL BAD ABOUT YOURSELF
It can be tough to decipher behavior at times, but your feelings never lie. Friendships should make you feel good about yourself, empowered, and encouraged. If you make them feel bad, you should probably reconsider the friendship’s value to you. Unfortunately, some people like bringing others down.
- THEY ARE STRONG COMPETITIVE.
It’s healthy to be competitive now and then, but like with most things, there’s such a thing as too much of a good thing. A friendship that is built on competitive behavior is never healthy or sincere.
- WHEN GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO YOU, THEY ARE NOT HAPPY FOR YOU.
This is one of the most common warning indicators, and it’s based on competitive behavior as well. True friends want to see you succeed and enjoy your life.
- THEY ADD TO THE DRAMA IN YOUR LIFE
People who spend their time whining about drama are usually the ones who start it. You don’t need that kind of negativity in your life.
- BEHIND YOUR BACK, THEY BITCH ABOUT YOU
This is a complete no-no. Friendships must be built on mutual trust and respect. Don’t put up with it any longer.
- IT SEEMS LIKE YOUR RELATIONSHIP IS BUILT ON CONDITIONALITY.
This holds true for all of your relationships. You should get the impression that they are unconditional and not conditional on you being or performing a certain way.
- YOUR FRIENDS RESPOND TO YOUR CALL
It happens from time to time, which is fine, but if it happens frequently, it clearly indicates that your friend is untrustworthy and has far less invested in the friendship than you do. Maybe it’s time for you to give up on them for good.
- THEY USE AND SHARE YOUR SECRETS AGAINST YOU.
This is nefarious, and a good buddy would never do such a thing.
- THEY HAVE A NEGATIVE INFLUENCE ON YOU AND CAUSE YOU TO DO THINGS THAT WILL GET YOU IN TROUBLE.
Before you get yourself into difficulty, nip this in the bud. Friends don’t make friends do bad things… or text while drunk, but we’ll ignore that for the time being.
- BEHIND THEIR BACKS, THEY TALK ABOUT THEIR OTHER FRIENDS
If they do it to you, it’s likely that they’ll do it to you as well. It’s fine to moan now and again, but anything malevolent indicates that they aren’t as sincere as they would like you to believe.
- THEY DISAPPEAR WHEN YOU NEED THEM MOST
So there are friends who are just friends, and then there are friends who are still your friends at 3 a.m. on a Wednesday morning when you’re having a nervous breakdown. The latter are your lifelong pals, and it’s crucial to know that you can count on a limited group of people to stick by your side no matter what.
- THEY KEEP YOU FROM PARTICIPATING IN ACTIVITIES WITH MUTUAL FRIENDS.
If it’s done on purpose and happens frequently despite you bringing it up, we recommend establishing some distance. It’s crucial to keep in mind that it can happen by accident, so talk to them about it before drawing any conclusions.
