Girlfriendology shares the essence of female friendship and friendship as a New Year's Resolution | The New Girlfriendology | Be a Better Friend | Inspiration, Girlfriends, Friendship, Girlfriend Gifts

Prioritizing friendship is a wonderful New Year’s Resolution.

Think about it. Girlfriends make us healthier, happier, less stress, live longer and even feel more beautiful. When we look forward to a new year and to making it better than the previous year, this important relationship can be the key element to reaching so many of our goals. Dieting and exercising together is more successful. Women are able to impact each other’s financial success. And, basically, we support each other through good and bad times.

All great reasons to add ‘strengthening your female friendships’ to your New Year’s Resolutions. But, how do you do that? What does it take to be a good friend? It’s not always easy, so hopefully this article will help you build your friendships, and become the friend you want to be in 2009.

The Essence of Friendship

By Molly Carter, published Jan 09, 2008

The essence of friendship sounds like a beautiful recipe. However, instead of just sugar and spice, there are usually a variety of other ingredients that sometimes flavor our relationships.

Friendship is a process full of give and take, full of faith, full of livelihood, laughter, tears, arguments, disagreements, and courage. True friendship is a humbling and vulnerable experience. Opening yourself up and sharing your hopes and fears is scary. It is this vulnerability that I think is the true essence of friendship.

Showing another being who you are without any glitz or glamour is difficult. We’re brought up to be proper, polite and put on airs. Allowing someone to see you, raw, aching and hurting is agonizing. Allowing yourself to share happy thoughts and dreams can sometimes be just as terrifying because you could, after all, fail.

Friendship is a term that is loosely tossed around, but I think there are few relationships that stand the test of time long enough to be considered true friendship. Friendship is the trust you build with another person. Friendship is the knowledge that you will not be judged, but more importantly, the knowledge a true friend will honestly show you sides of yourself you’d rather ignore. It takes a strong friendship to withstand that kind of honesty.

True friendship is a person that will stand up to you when you are wrong. Will fight with you when you won’t listen to reason. Will applaud you for your achievements. Will risk life and limb to help you. A true friendship accepts you as you are. Accepts you for your flaws and failures and never judges the person, only the behavior.

There is the age old saying “It’s better to be loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” I think friendship is like that in a lot of respects. I think different friendships come in and out of our lives for different reasons. It’s easy to close ourselves off to a true friendship after we’ve been hurt.

Instead of covering up the true essence of what friendship should be, we should learn from our failures. Accept fleeting friendships for what they are. Appreciate the laughter they provided in sad times. Appreciate the support they offered when you were struggling.

Instead of running away from the raw ingredient, the essence of friendship, allow yourself to feel that vulnerability. You will be amazed at your growth and the deep friendships that will grow.

The Essence of Friendship – Associated Content.