True Friends

Meaningful friendships, satisfying working relationships, and intimate romantic partnerships are what make life worth living. Studies show dying people consistently report the same thing as having been most important to them during their lives: Relationships.

All of us desire more closeness in our lives. All of us prefer acceptance and approval over rejection and disapproval. The more important the person is to us, the more important their approval and the more intense our fear of disapproval. This importance may be a result of either:

(a) Our respect for them, or, (b) Our dependence on them

All of us need true friends. But what is a true friend, and how do you know when you have found one? We can best answer that question in terms of our feelings.

With a true friend you feel:

Accepted
Acknowledged
Admired
Appreciated
Approved of
Encouraged
Free
Heard
Important
Liked
Listened to
Loved
Recognized
Respected
Safe
Significant
Supported
Trusted
Understood
Valued

A true friend is someone who helps you reach your highest potential, someone who helps you be the best you can be.

~© Steve Hein~