FRIENDSHIP SERIES PART.2 with Dr. Mel
Welcome back to our friendship series!! I hope these posts inspire you & are truly making you think about friendships in a whole new way!
RECAP ON THIS SERIES-
HAPPY #FRIENDSGIVING this month of November is all about what you’re thankful for and I know we are all so thankful for friends and friendships that we share. When I started thinking of the perfect person to share some friendship sunshine with us I knew Dr.Melanie Mills would be amazing!!! Dr.Mel and I have really thought through these questions and answers that your about to read so that you can truly understand what a friendship is, what kind of friend you are, what to look for in a quality friendship, and so much more. Welcome to part two of this three part series. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts and hopefully these posts will really make you think about how you can cultivate a healthy and real friendship.
&& in case you missed part.1 check it out by clicking here!
Lets get started!!
What are ways to seek discernment with our friendship relationships?I tell people to watch people’s patterns – over their words. Words are wonderful, but actions are truthful. Of course we will make mistakes. I’m not referring to normal human behavior that is required for us to learn and grow. I am referring to the gossip addict that talks out of two sides of her mouth. I am talking about the quick to anger friend that continues to use you as a punching bag when no one else is around. I am referring to the friend that repeatedly becomes your best friend the month before Justin Beiber is coming to town because she knows you have tickets – but she doesn’t invite you to her house on a regular basis. Pay attention to the friends that do what they say they are going to do. Follow through on their commitments. Make an exerted effort to be kind, thoughtful, safe, and trustworthy. Allow yourself to be open and vulnerable so that you can get close to friends, but use wisdom when choosing who give your heart, mind, and emotions.Discernment stems from wisdom. Which is actually a gift from God that we can pray for. He wants us to have it.What do you think the most important quality is in a friendship?For me, I value honesty, trust, and loyalty. ** Emotional Intelligence is a new addition that I am really enjoying with certain friendships. **
How do you keep a positive uplifting spirit in a friendship?People really are amazing. Once you grasp that we are all human, make mistakes, and operate from our own strengths, ability, personality, experiences, heart desires – we are able to see people for how God made them. Those friends that are wounded, hurt, confused, immature, blinded, uninformed- make choices or comments or decisions that have nothing to do with most of the time. Unfortunately, we can be in their wake of destruction if we aren’t paying attention (and even sometimes if we are wide awake). This is part of life. It’s how we grow and learn for the next phase. One key is found in remaining close to those that will come to you directly when you have hurt them or offended them- instead of talking behind your back, being passive aggressive, or avoiding the conflict. Another key is found in not taking other people’s hurts, wounds, unhealthy messages of their own – personally. Life is short and we only have one life on this earth. Friends are the people on earth that teach us how to love, heal wounds by remaining faithful and trustworthy, exemplify grace and truth- mercy and understanding. True friends crawl into the trenches and climb up to the mountaintops with us.
SOPHIE AND DR.MEL
