August 1, 2021

Friendships

Notes From Dad

Friendships

Your relationship is moving forward and all seems to be good, until your partner becomes concerned about your relationship with friends, especially if they are the opposite sex. This could lead to turmoil and anger between the two of you and create an atmosphere that neither one of you will enjoy. What are some of the causes for this and how do couples cope with this situation.

First, let’s look at some of the causes: Most of the time it is about jealousy. This is a human emotion that at one time or another we all have had. What could causes this can be targeted to an uneasiness in our thought process. Low self-esteem- you feel you do not measure up to the other person that you are jealous of. Fear- where sometimes you create in your mind a negativity that will disrupt your world. Control- all of a sudden you are competing with another person and your defenses kick in and now you are in a scare mode of losing what you had.

Some of the best ways to deal with friendships is to be honest and truthful. As in all relationships, open communication is an important aspect that should be shared between the two of you. Be realistic and fair: Try not to let emotions control your feelings, accept the fact that people, same sex or opposite, can be friends even very close friends.

Using the acronym Listen- will help you sustain and enjoy past, present and future friendships.

L= Listen to your friend

I= Ignore the silly stuff

S= Stop comparing

T= Talk to each other

E= Enjoy times together

N= Never compare yourself to another.

Good Luck!!