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What defines a real friend?
By Unwritten — Written on Mar 06, 2019
By Jess Notting
True friends will never give you a reason to doubt the friendship.
If you’ve ever questioned any of your friendships, then it’s possible something is amiss.
Life shows you who your true friends are, and difficult times will reveal them.
People come and go throughout our lives, and that’s ok. The people who are most important will stay.
Here are 10 signs of a true friendship:
1. They are genuinely happy for you when things are going well
True friends are always happy for you when you’re happy.
They will be genuinely proud of you when you’ve accomplished something.
True friends will celebrate with you on your achievements!
They will encourage you to be the best version of yourself, and help you grow as a person.
2. They have your back
Your secrets will always be safe with them.
You can trust them with your life.
They will always speak highly of you to others, and protect you when others try to bring you down.
3. They are always there for you when you need them the most
You can rely on them.
True friends will always support you through the good, the bad, and the ugly.
They will be there to listen or when you need a shoulder to cry on.
4. They genuinely care about you
True friends want to know how you’re doing.
They will go out of their way to ask you questions about what’s going on in your life just to make sure everything’s ok.
5. They actually want to spend time with you
They genuinely enjoy your company.
True friends value your time and energy and will make the effort to visit you.
6. They share things with you
They trust you enough to tell you anything, and know that you won’t judge them.
They support you when you open up to them, too.
7. They stay loyal to you through time and over long distance
No amount of time or no length of distance can come between the two of you.
You can go for long periods of time without talking, but later catch up like nothing has changed.
8. They respect your boundaries
True friends will never make you feel uncomfortable.
They will empathize with you and respect your feelings.
They will listen to you, and respect your opinions. You will have a strong sense of mutual understanding.
9. They communicate with you
True friends will confront you with any issues they might have.
They will be honest with you about their feelings, and try to solve problems in private.
10. They accept you for who you are
They accept you for all of your flaws, and never try to change you.
They believe in you even when you don’t believe in yourself.
Friendships are a two-way street.
True friendships are supportive and empowering.
You need to feel good about the relationships you have in your life.
You need to be selective of the people you let into your life. Surround yourself with good people.
Jess Notting is a writer who focuses on love and relationships. For more of her relationship content, visit her author profile on Unwritten.
This article was originally published at Unwritten. Reprinted with permission from the author.