Why is important to choose your friends wisely?

“There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature.” Jane Austen

I believe that sometimes is a blessing and a curse to love and care so deeply for others. It’s a blessing when it’s reciprocated and a curse when it’s not.

The quote from Jane Austen above resonates a lot with my nature. I will do anything for the people who are really my friends. I do not give a portion of my love, I give it all.

The people who really get me know that I have struggled with the term “friend” for a long time. I have struggled with identifying who are my friends and who are my acquaintances. I have struggled to let friendships run their course and move on to new ones. The lost and the gain. During those times I have acknowledged that I needed to stop with this struggle and ask myself a question, what’s family to me?

The friends you choose is the family you choose. These are the people who will be PART of your life, just like family.

We need to pick them wisely.

We need people who encourage us, love us, motivate us, accept us and help us grow. People who listen, understand and ask you “but really, how are you?”

I reached a point where I find myself giving too much on certain friendships. I tried my best, but I realized I can’t try to fit a ball into a square. If it doesn’t fit, it doesn’t belong. In this process, I’ve grieve because knowing you are losing a friend is knowing that a story ended. So yeah, it’s a hard process.

Nowadays, my group of real friends is a small one and I realized what is the most important thing (and I read it sooo many times) —it’s the quality, not the quantity. 

With that being said, I embarked into a quest to know what characteristics are important in a friendship. In a period of two weeks, 53 people and some valuable conversations I got the results.

What do you think? There’s so many beautiful qualities in this poll. If every human being act on these characteristics how many valuable friendships we could have!

So I wonder…Are we giving what we ask from others? I leave this to you. Accept the fact that you will grow apart from people you’ve had significant relationships with. Understand when someone no longer positively affects your life. Let them go. Don’t hinder your growth and choose wisely.

More articles on friendship Unfriend that jealous friend and 6 Signs of Healthy Friendships to Look out For

Have a lovely day!

xoxo,
Cristina