Every friendship is characterized by  traits such as affection, sympathy, empathy, honesty, altruism, mutual understanding and compassion. A Strong friendship is built on trust.

This then offers one the opportunity to express himself without fear of prejudice. True friendship offers a shoulder for one to lean on at all times. It also provides an opportunity for both parties to share ideas, secrets and build a stronger bond.

Whilst everyone wants to meet good friends, it is important to remark that they are hard to come by. It really takes a lot of time to nurture one, however, it is worth investing in such relationships when one finds one.

We all need the bond of friendship that is why many people allude it to a tree. In the manner, the root of a tree penetrates into the soil, so should friendship develops.

In the below graff, I have discussed the group of friends you need to keep and those you have to discard in your life. Remember: life is made up of 99 percent of the choices we make and 1 percent of the reactions we get from them.

1#: Opportunists - These people take advantage of the available opportunities to advance their personal cause, placing expediency above principle. In situations where selfishness rules, these people will back out when they are not benefiting. Anyone who is motivated by the self and would not want to seek your general good is not worthy of your confidence and friendship. We meet such people all the time, yet, we fail to pay attention to them. Resolve to be mindful of those who seek to be at the receiving end but not interested in committing their resources and time in return.

2#: Backstabbers - backstabbers are traitors, hypocrite or friends who appear to be trustworthy but demonstrate their real character unexpectedly.  Such people will act so nice when you are around but will discredit your hard won reputation in your absence. Like the Judas story in the Bible, backstabbers will easily sell you to the highest bidder when the need arises. Backstabbers will “stab” you in the dark and pretend nothing of a sort has happened.

3#: Flakes – These are persons who are impractical, flighty, unreliable or inconsistent. In moments of difficulty, we all need somebody who is steadfast for us to lean on in order to regain our balance. Friendship is a tool we all need to fix in our lives.

To receive more, one has to learn to be more by being;

1#: Loyalist - A person who demonstrates undivided and constant support for someone is a loyalist. These people will share your pain, offer corrections when you fall and give you love unconditionally just when you need it. They don’t love us because it is an obligation. Like angels, they guide us through the muddy waters of the world.

2#: Complement – the word is duly defined as the ability to completes, combines or fulfills one’s self without any a missing part. We all need a balanced relationship and a helping hand in whatever we set out to do.

Scripture reminds us in Amos 3:3 that: “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?”

Pride and ego have the power to destroy your hard-won reputation and life when you let them in into your life.

My belief is that when it comes to friendship, we all need to have long lasting principles that will serve as a guide to us in the choice of our friends. For the fact that you live in the same neighborhood with someone, a colleague in the office, a schoolmate, a tenant or a landlord does not guarantee a fruitful friendship.

Remember to be cautious in the way you share your marital, and family issues, with people you barely know.  Make sure you choose your friends and not the other way round.

The door of friendship opens to us every single day but you have to be careful with the one you lett in into your inner circles.

Set a boundary through yielding values so that people who want to become a friend to you will have something to hold up to.

But essentially, connect with the right people for the right task and do not be deceived: Evil company, it is said, corrupts good habits.

Selah!!

 

By: Prince Asiedu Dankwa

Email: oheneba2yaw@gmailcom

Facebook: Nana Yaw Asiedu Dankwa