HOW TO DEAL WITH CONFLICT IN FRIENDSHIPS
1. Calm down. No one thinks rationally when emotionally worked up. Give yourself time to calm
down before even thinking of the subject of the conflict again.
2. Give each other respect. Without first respecting your friend, it is unlikely that the conflict will
be resolved amicably.
3. Give each other space. When the conflict has become too heated, walk away.
4. Give each other time. Time to cool off will help all parties’ involved think things over in a
rational manner.
5. Respect each other's space and time. Everybody's different. Your friend may need a week before
he/she is ready to resolve the conflict and you may need only a day. Give him/her the time he/she
needs.
6. Communicate. Not talking only makes matters worse.Periodically contact your friend to let
him/her know that you still care about him/her if you wish to continue the relationship.
7. Listen well. Listen intently and focus on his point of view with an open mind.
8. Choose your words wisely. Avoid accusatory phrases like "you never," "you always” or "why
would you."
9. Leave out the "but." When your friend asks if you accept his apology don't say "yes, but..." It's a
conditional acceptance and can lead to more hurt feelings. The same goes for "I understand,
but...”
10. Let it go. If you can't find common ground, agree to disagree and let it go. Nothing good will
come out of the conflict if you don't.
REAL FRIENDSHIP
Real friends like you for who you are. They respect your opinions and believe in your dreams. They don’t judge you by your appearance, or popularity. They know all the little details about you and still like you anyway. Real friends are there to celebrate the happy days and to console you through the not-so-happy days. Real friends laugh with you and cry with you and feel for you when you don’t feel much like feeling.
Not everyone who comes and goes in your life will prove to be a real friend. Some people may seem that way for a bit, but when the going gets tuff, those people are usually hard to find. It’s been said that once you grow older, if you can count the number of real friends on more than one hand, you are a very lucky person. Trust me when I say that this is true.
Value your real friends. Don’t waste time with people who don’t respect you or who really don’t listen when you talk. If you can’t be completely yourself in front of someone, then that person is not a real friend. Put 100% into friendships that matter and don’t be fooled by people who give you any less.
