How to Respect Your Friends
Be supportive., Never forget your friend's birthday., Listen to them., Never force your friends to talk to you when they make it clear they don't want to.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Be supportive.
Never stop believing in your friends, even when they've given up.
Don't be unrealistic – but try to see the best in them, and try to help them see the best in themselves.
Encourage them when you know that they need the extra push.
Be a positive influence.
Don't support your friend in doing things that you know are a bad idea.
On the other hand, respect your friend's right to learn from his or her mistakes.
Help them study for tests, but don't tutor them like a teacher.
If you tutor your friend too much, they might get irritated; they may believe that you think that they know nothing.
Only help them out if they ask for advice, and it may make the two of you closer. -
Step 2: Never forget your friend's birthday.
Write him or her a thoughtful note, and make or buy a gift that feels personal.
This shows that you care, and that you want the friendship to last a long time.
Odds are, your friend will be deeply grateful. , Listen to their problems, their fears, their dreams, their joys.
Put aside your own problems, and take the time to fix your full attention upon what your friend needs.
Offer advice, if it seems appropriate, but try to just let them talk.
Listening is one of the most important things that you can do for a friendship.Listen to all of your friends when they need to talk.
If you prove that you are a thoughtful and trustworthy listener, your friends may confide most of their problems in you.
Do not interrupt them when they're speaking.
Interruption is a sign of disrespect. , Don't take this personally.
Some people are simply more reserved, and are the type to handle their problems themselves.
This doesn't mean they have anything against you, or don't value you as a friend.
It means talking about certain topics might make them uncomfortable, and you should always respect that.
Pressuring them to speak to you will only make them not want to come to you with things in the future. -
Step 3: Listen to them.
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Step 4: Never force your friends to talk to you when they make it clear they don't want to.
Detailed Guide
Never stop believing in your friends, even when they've given up.
Don't be unrealistic – but try to see the best in them, and try to help them see the best in themselves.
Encourage them when you know that they need the extra push.
Be a positive influence.
Don't support your friend in doing things that you know are a bad idea.
On the other hand, respect your friend's right to learn from his or her mistakes.
Help them study for tests, but don't tutor them like a teacher.
If you tutor your friend too much, they might get irritated; they may believe that you think that they know nothing.
Only help them out if they ask for advice, and it may make the two of you closer.
Write him or her a thoughtful note, and make or buy a gift that feels personal.
This shows that you care, and that you want the friendship to last a long time.
Odds are, your friend will be deeply grateful. , Listen to their problems, their fears, their dreams, their joys.
Put aside your own problems, and take the time to fix your full attention upon what your friend needs.
Offer advice, if it seems appropriate, but try to just let them talk.
Listening is one of the most important things that you can do for a friendship.Listen to all of your friends when they need to talk.
If you prove that you are a thoughtful and trustworthy listener, your friends may confide most of their problems in you.
Do not interrupt them when they're speaking.
Interruption is a sign of disrespect. , Don't take this personally.
Some people are simply more reserved, and are the type to handle their problems themselves.
This doesn't mean they have anything against you, or don't value you as a friend.
It means talking about certain topics might make them uncomfortable, and you should always respect that.
Pressuring them to speak to you will only make them not want to come to you with things in the future.
About the Author
Virginia Turner
Creates helpful guides on organization to inspire and educate readers.
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