| Friendship health is possible regardless of the type | | | | relatively regular contact so that the bond |
| and level of the relationship. While it is less likely | | | | wouldn't dissolve. |
| (not impossible though) that a close friendship | | | | Deeper communication |
| would be unhealthy, a healthy one does not | | | | Within quality friends, people do more than talk, |
| necessarily have to be a close one. A myriad | | | | they communicate beyond a superficial level. This |
| factors facilitate the development of enduring and | | | | is a manifestation of mutual interest and caring. |
| fulfilling friendship. | | | | "Fringe" friends usually do not possess this |
| Trust | | | | higher-level characteristic. This is precisely why |
| Trust is the foundation of relationships beyond the | | | | fringe friendships remain dispensable and never |
| acquaintance level. Trust in your friend and in the | | | | move into the top tiers of your relationship |
| relationship is critical to the development of a | | | | landscape. |
| healthy bond. Intimacy requires a certain element | | | | Support |
| of privacy. If you know that your friend is cannot | | | | This involves mutual encouragement and extends |
| or would not maintain that privacy, a strong | | | | to maintaining buoyancy in life. Within such a bond, |
| relationship would be impossible. Trust in the bond | | | | people look out for each other and point out if or |
| implies confidence in the endurance of it and in the | | | | when the other goes astray. Helping your friend |
| reciprocal respect and admiration of your friend. | | | | through troubles is essential, but a friend should |
| Sincerity | | | | never have a draining effect if the relationship is |
| Lack of pretence is a necessary prerequisite for a | | | | to remain healthy. In a healthy one, neither friend |
| healthy friendly relationship. This does not just | | | | is a crutch or draining personality. |
| apply to the obvious, i.e. pretending to be | | | | Resolving conflicts |
| someone's friend for personal gain or objectives. | | | | Nothing reinforces a bond more than resolving |
| Sincerity is remaining true to yourself and the | | | | differences with each other and overcoming other |
| friendship. If you have a problem with your friend | | | | obstacles to friendship. Conflict is merely a |
| or something that's affecting the bond, you would | | | | potential obstacle. Dealing effectively with such an |
| not pretend that everything's alright. Sincerity | | | | obstacle deepens the bond by reinforcing the |
| provides the foundation to solidify a friendship's | | | | "all-weather" nature of a friendship. Overcoming |
| health by ameliorating or preventing festering | | | | obstacles in general demonstrates that it isn't |
| negativity. | | | | strong only in the good times. |
| Effort | | | | Not all of our relationships or interactions would be |
| You can't sit by and maintain or develop a | | | | healthy in a general sense. In the same way, not |
| friendship. All relationships that are of a personal | | | | all of our friendships may be healthy. Their state |
| nature would take some effort. Although such | | | | can fluctuate along the continuum between |
| bonds lack formal (and sometimes informal) | | | | healthy and unhealthy as well. It mirrors the |
| commitment, it is not acquaintanceship. Therefore, | | | | fluidity of social interaction and demonstrates how |
| it is important to develop the bond through | | | | things change. |