HOW DO I KNOW If my friendships are TRUE & GENUINE?

The idea of friendship is inherently complex as it speaks to our inner state of being – feelings of admiration, affection, care, fondness, respect, trust, loyalty, etc. Friendship is a mutual and personal relationship rooted in a concern for each other’s welfare, and acceptance of the person for who he or she is. Studies have confirmed the amazing benefits of friendships in promoting our overall health and wellbeing; body, mind, and soul. But how do I know if my friendships are really true and genuine?

As we go through the stages from childhood through teenage to adulthood, the meaning of “friendship” and “friends” change. As children the physical activities of playing defined friendships. It’s that time in our lives when we made friends without thought of its meaning coupled with a total absence of feelings of mistrust. In teen and adult friendships we lay greater emphasis on shared interests and activities, personal similarities, trust and loyalty.

Casual friends meet more frequently, and we share common interests and activities. We may share personal information but not of an intimate nature. A close friend differs significantly from an acquaintance and casual friend. Friendship also has its phases, from acquaintances to casual friendship to close friendship. Acquaintances are the people we interact occasionally, for example, at the parent-teachers meeting or at the mall. n disclosure and a shared belonging.

You are most likely familiar with the terms: Friends for a reason; Friends for a season; and Friends for a lifetime. They describe the justification and reasoning behind our friendships.

Friends for a reason are friendships of mutual advantage, usefulness, and convenience. You benefit and complement each other by sharing your knowledge, skills, and thoughts as coworkers, team members or online friends. And as the state of benefits and usefulness declines or ceases, it’s likely the friendship will decline or cease too.

Friends for a season are with us for a period in our lives. You may have been neighbors or attended the same school or college. Friends for a season and friends of mutual pleasure are common features of our teen years and young adulthood. You enjoy being around each other engaging in fun and laughter, and even the passion of love affairs. But once you cease sharing common space, interests and activities, the friendship may fade or die a natural death, and not necessarily because of relationship issues.

Friends for a lifetime are friendships that have withstood the test of time, changes in personal perspectives and preferences. You may go months and sometimes years without meeting up, but when you do, it is a feeling of wistful affection of the past. It’s a mindset ofenduring friendship habits. Lifetime friends and best friends are numbered among our close friends.

And whether you are friends for a reason, friends for a season, friends for a lifetime, or friends online, there is but one constant: the degree and extent of shared admiration, affection, trust, loyalty, support, communication, and give-and-take is what defines our friendships.