Healthy friendships, bonds that help us grow

Each friendship is a world inhabited by the people who make it up and their relationship. There are those that we only relive from time to time, others that ended due to time or circumstances and those that help us grow because they act as strength, support and support. They are healthy friendships.

This type of friendship is characterized because whoever builds it puts all their love into it, as well as respect and trust. They are artisans of good times, companions on bad days and inspirers of smiles. Let’s dig deeper.

Characteristics of healthy friendships

Healthy friendships drive us to grow, motivate ourselves and evolve; They work as that impulse that sometimes we need so much, but also as that listening that makes us feel understood and valued. Let’s look at its other features:

Honesty. Healthy friendships are also honest, that is, sincere, respectful and fair. They have no double intentions, nor does interest prevail in them.Assertiveness. Transmitting what you want to say in the best possible way is also one of its characteristics. These types of friendships interact in favor of well-being.There are limits. Healthy friendships know how to say no because they do not act under the cloak of complacency, but rather one that is distinguished by the balance and good of the members that make it up.They foster trust. Believing in each other is key in this type of relationship. Building security in the relationship and discarding fears and prejudices are part of your priorities.

As we see, Healthy friendships are authentic. They allow us to show ourselves as we are. In this way, we feel free and we are able to share unparalleled moments. Now, this does not mean that it is not possible to discuss, but that when there are differences of opinion in some way what takes precedence is the relationship and not convincing the other of one’s own point of view.

How to build healthy friendships?

Healthy friendships are the result of a set of efforts, values ​​and skills. Below, we mention the most important ones:

Acceptance. Accepting others and ourselves is the basis of authenticity, that thread that, together with respect and tolerance, builds healthy relationships.Optimism. Downplaying complaints and judgments is key to nurturing friendships. Just like building a positive outlook.Assertive communication. Conveying what we want to say in the best way, whether it is an agreement or disagreement, is key to relating well to others. This way, the other will be able to understand our point of view. Which avoids any type of misunderstanding.I respect. Knowing how far we go and how far the other goes and understanding it, that is respect.Goodbye to the competition. It doesn’t matter who achieves more achievements or who reaches the goal first, but rather that we grow, evolve, transform ourselves. Because life is not a race, but an adventure in which the greatest exponent is learning.Emotional management. Knowing how to manage our emotions helps us be more assertive and increases our understanding of our behaviors and those of others. A very big help to build healthy friendships.

Now, in addition to all these characteristics, we cannot forget that Knowing each other is also important. Practicing self-knowledge helps us manage ourselves and thus become better people in the relationships we have with others.

What are the benefits of having healthy friendships?

There are many benefits derived from creating healthy bonds. Among them, we can highlight the following:

They promote happiness. They increase the sense of belonging.They reduce stress.They improve trust. They cultivate authenticity.They bring positivity.They act as a good support point.

It’s incredible what healthy friendships can give us. What’s more, having them promotes healthy aging. In fact, this is what Otero Puime, Zunzunegui Pastor, François, Rodríguez Laso, García de Yébenes and Prous suggest in their article for the BBVA Foundation. In fact, they also affirm that the psychosocial networks and mechanisms built throughout life play an important role in healthy aging.

Specifically, they demonstrated the beneficial effect of having a confidant and the role of being an active member in friendship relationships. Hence, having healthy friendships promotes a better quality of life, especially at advanced ages.

Another important aspect of this type of friendship is its role as an antidote or analgesic for our fears and anxieties. So they not only help us overcome obstacles thanks to their support but also promote our well-being.

It is wonderful to see how we can grow alongside friendships that nourish us and help us become a better person. Therefore, let us not stop valuing them, appreciating the time they dedicate to us and the love they give us.

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