“To get a hold on boys
you must be their friend.”
– Sir Robert Baden-Powell
(1857-1941)
Founder of the Boy Scouts
Friendship is one of the undervalued treasures of life. When you have friends you have all the
elements that are needed to achieve success.
There is support, guidance, encouragement and help. Those with few friends are poor, those with
many are wealthy. As one time Presidential
candidate, Hubert H. Humphrey said, "The greatest gift of life is
friendship, and I have received it."
Knowing
this profound truth, why do so many have a difficult time developing and
maintaining friendships? The most common
mistake about friendship people make is to think it is about them and how their
friends treat them. Friendship is always
about our friends and how good a friend we are to them.
Let me share
with you a few key elements to a good and solid friendship that you can apply
to your life. These will make you a
better friend and will increase your ability to gain more friends.
Have A Positive Attitude
Nothing will repel friends
faster than a grumpy and moody disposition.
Who wants to be around a sour puss?
Those who gain friends are those who are pleasant and cheerful. People like to be around happy and positive
people. They want to feel encouraged and
excited about life and your attitude can make that happen.
Care For Others
The selfish and self-centered do
not make good friends. They spend all
their time thinking about themselves and what they want and what others think
of them. A good friend cares about other
people more than for themselves. They
know how to listen, to encourage and to enjoy the hopes and dreams of
others. A good friend does all they can
to help their friends achieve and grow.
Laugh Freely
One of the most valued qualities
about friendship is the ability to laugh together. People love to have someone in their life who
they can have fun with, laugh with and just flat out enjoy. Yes, it is important to have a friend to walk
through the difficult times with, but you do not, or should not, live in the
difficult times. Even then, when you are
stressed and facing challenges, nothing works better to relieve that stress
than a good laugh. Be a friend that
people can laugh with as well and cry with.
Excel In Loyalty
Friends are people who you can
depend on to be honest, trustworthy and loyal.
We need people in our lives that we know will never betray our trust or
cause us harm. Those who think of
themselves first cannot be loyal because loyalty is the very act of thinking of
others, and what is best for them, first.
Be the person others know they can depend on to keep their secrets,
support their dreams and be there when they need you.
You
matter! You matter to the world and to
yourself. Remember to be your best, love
God, have good manners, achieve the unknown and change your world.
John Patrick
Hickey is an author, speaker, Life Coach and proud Scouter. To read more from
John Patrick Hickey or to get his books, training and book him to speak to your
church, business or group, visit our website at http://www.growthcenter.net or www.johnpatrickhickey.com.
© 2014 John
Patrick Hickey
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