I'll Be There For You : Making and Keeping Friends

"Friends"
Music by Elton John
Lyrics by Bernie Taupin

I hope the day will be a lighter highway
For friends are found on every road
Can you ever think of any better way
For the lost and weary travelers to go

Making friends for the world to see
Let the people know you got what you need
With a friend at hand you will see the light
If your friends are there then everything's all right

It seems to me a crime that we should age
These fragile times should never slip us by
A time you never can or shall erase
As friends together watch their childhood fly

Before you make friends, you have to decide who you want to be your friends. Most people like to have friends who like to do the same kinds of things they do. That doesn't mean you have to be exactly like each other, just that you enjoy some of the same things. Some tips for making friends. Speak to others: Say "hello" or "good morning." Ask how they are doing and be willing to hear their answer. Some really want to share their lives with you. Respect others. Almost everyone wants to be respected and they will respond well when you are respectful. Join a club or group. This is a good way to find others with similar interests. Groups such as music, band, writing, sports, dance and book clubs allow you to build on experience to form lasting friendships. Wait. Friendships take time to form, so be patient.

Friendship Skills

1.Your Friend Must Like Him or Herself when with you. Everyone wants, more than anything else, to believe in him or herself. Showing honest sincere appreciation is a good way to start a friendship.
2. Listen to your friend with your full and undivided attention.
3. Help your friend find true purpose in life and encourage his or her growth in consciousness.
4. Give your friend empathy, not sympathy. Empathy shows understanding; Sympathy supports a victim story, and the telling of it can only disempower your friend.
5. Do unto your friend as you would have him or her do unto you. This is, of course it the Golden Rule of all relationships
6. Give your friend the space to be who he or she is without judgment. This may be the most important rule of all. This defines the true purpose of a relationship -- it provides each with the experience of being who he/ she is.

If you are short on friends, it can only be because you have chosen to BE someone who lacks good friends. To solve that problem, you need only choose to BE A GOOD FRIEND who doesn't NEED a friend and then let the Universal Law of Attraction fill your order. It'll happen quicker than you might believe.

For more information, check out the following links.

http://www.richbits.com/relate/Friend_skills.html
http://cyberparent.com/friendship/
http://www.skillwithpeople.com/articles/topic1.html
http://psychology.about.com/library/clinical/blsp2.htm
http://www.mentalhealth.org/publications/allpubs/SMA-3716/default.asp
http://www.sunscape.com/mcn/newsltrs/95q3gocon.html
http://www.goldcoastdmda.com/articles/friends1.php
http://www.crgs.org/bullies/bullies6.htm
http://lifeskills.endlex.com/article/friendship_establishing_and_maintaining_friends_for_life.html

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