To have a true and honest friend that lasts ages is a rare thing that not a lot of people seem to get a grasp on its significance. Having a friend who understands you without needing to explain, to simply ask for a favor knowing you are not a burden to them, or for that friend to be even closer to you than your family is a blessing, yet sometimes, with life’s constant demands, trials, and tribulations, friendships get a bit complicated, to say the least.
Your daily conversations and hangouts turn into weekly and then become monthly meetups, and what’s worse is occasionally you might say something or act in a certain way that gets lost in translation and ends up in your friend’s brain as an insult to them, leading them to get angry at you or avoiding you.
This type of misunderstanding and lack of communication if not addressed properly will lead to years-long friendships going down the drain, so how do you overcome this situation? How can you rebuild your friendship? Here are some helpful tips to help you along the way.
Choose The Right Time
A successful friendship is based on trust and understanding when to speak and when to be quiet, so if you have a certain problem with your friend or vice versa, the key here is to choose the right time to discuss what went wrong. Don’t choose a time when they are at an all-time low or too busy juggling work and have no energy for themselves. Always check their mental capacity before approaching them and discussing the misunderstanding.
Listen First, Speak Later
We understand that sometimes these types of misunderstandings can trigger you and make you emotional, however, when spoken to, it’s best to get a grip on your feelings and listen to what they have to say before you jump the gun and go on the defensive mode.
Sometimes it’s not about proving your innocence, but it’s about validating their feelings and understanding what made them feel isolated or angry at you.
Ask Them What Can You Do to Fix It
After listening to your friend and figuring out what happened that caused the misunderstanding, ask them what can be done to ensure that this type of misunderstanding and lack of communication won’t be a thing that causes a separation.
Establish Boundaries and Expectations
Whether you've been close with someone for years or recently formed a friendship, if they have an uncharacteristic reaction to something you've said, it's important to understand and accommodate their new behavior by setting new boundaries and redefining expectations for your friendship will be essential for your future interactions.
Give Each Other Space
Even if the situation is resolved, it’s best to give each other some space to digest and move on. Let go of any bad blood or anger, and always remember that we are all humans who make mistakes and we should always try to improve ourselves and support each other.
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