Leadership Thought #384 – How Strong Are Your Relationships?
If we are honest with ourselves, most of our relationships are ones of convenience or necessity. Typically, these friendships are fine if things stay stable and major life issues don’t complicate the mix. However, once something bad happens, you quickly learn who your faithful friends are, and the result may surprise you.
Friendship is easy when life is easy. When life gets hard, some people don’t have the stomach for it. Always remember that this says more about them than you. Some people are just much more comfortable taking rather than giving. They cannot handle deeper levels of emotional depth or commitment.
A true friendship should incorporate all aspects of life, not just the good parts. There will be moments when you feel overwhelmed and need to ask for help, and that’s perfectly normal. We all need people close to us who will help us through tough times. They will have to be comfortable with seeing the less attractive side of our personality and allowing us to be fully human. They should help us create a safe space to be honest about our experiences. When we get off track, they should gently nudge us in the right direction and then walk with us, holding our hand if necessary. They should never enable immoral, unethical, or destructive behavior. We should also be willing to do the same for them when needed. All great relationships are a two-way street.
I am fortunate to be blessed with many caring and supportive people in my life. Some I hold close; others I know are there if needed. I hope and pray they expect the same from me. We all share this ride called life, and it’s comforting to know you don’t have to go through it alone, especially when it gets dark and bumpy. It is okay to need support, empathy, understanding, compassion, and even some tough love if you give it back in return. People can lift you, bring you down, or do nothing for you whatsoever. You always learn the most about the strength of your relationships when you need them the most.
Related articles
- Amazing Friendships (utesmile.wordpress.com)
- Do unto others… (dancingforjoy.wordpress.com)
- The Price of True Friendship (andrawatkins.com)
- Friendship Is A Two-Way Street. (ubebetternotbitter.wordpress.com)
- Friendship and Togetherness (yessiesuniartie7.wordpress.com)
- Cultivate Meaningful Friendships (capacity-building.com)
- The Importance of Friendships (everydayhealth.com)
