Advice columnist Carolyn Hax and friendship expert Danielle Bayard Jackson discuss adjusting expectations, having difficult conversations, and when to end a friendship. They offer practical tips for navigating challenging relationships and making the most of friendships.
Acknowledge friends' different ways of interacting to set realistic expectations.
Navigate friendships with open communication, addressing conflicts respectfully for personal growth.
Deep dives
Recognize Differences in Friendships
Friendship issues often stem from expecting friends to behave like oneself. Acknowledge that friends have their own ways of interacting and set realistic expectations based on their actions, not desires. Trying to change someone's behavior without their willingness can lead to frustration.
Co-create and Communicate in Friendships
Friendships are a collaborative effort that involves negotiation and communication. Instead of assuming chemistry, understand that friendships evolve through mutual interactions. Engage in healthy dialogues to express concerns and desires for the relationship.
Embrace Difficult Conversations and Boundaries
Addressing conflicts openly can strengthen relationships by fostering understanding and resolving misunderstandings. Approach challenging discussions with vulnerability, sharing observations, asking clarifying questions, and asserting personal boundaries. Ending depleting relationships with compassion and honesty is essential for personal growth.
Conclusion on Navigating Friendships
Navigate friendships by managing expectations, engaging in open communication, and valuing self-care. Recognize when a relationship becomes draining and be willing to address issues respectfully. Prioritize your well-being by fostering positive connections and being open to growth in social interactions.
In the third and final class of our course on how to make the most of your friendships, we offer guidance for what to do when things go wrong. Making friendships work requires adjusting expectations, having difficult conversations and sometimes deciding when parting ways is for the best. This class unpacks practical tips for doing each of these things, with guidance from Washington Post advice columnist Carolyn Hax and friendship expert Danielle Bayard Jackson.