international friendship Day Although Friendship Day is celebrated on July 30, in India Friendship Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of August. This year Friendship Day will be celebrated on August 4 and the purpose of this day is to celebrate the bond of friendship. We make friends at different stages of our lives, from school to college, work and sometimes even at social gatherings. Therefore, it is important that you choose your friends well as they play a major role in your life.

Your friends have the ability to influence your health, relationships and many other aspects of your life. The 80-year-long Harvard study, which is also the longest study on happiness, found that neither money nor fame can make you happy throughout your life. However, your close relationships can keep you happy and healthy. “Our relationships and how happy we are in our relationships have a huge impact on our health,” says Robert Waldinger, director of the study and a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

“Taking care of your body is important, but taking care of your relationships is also a form of self-care. That, I think, is the revelation,” she said.

The study also highlighted the importance of relationships in our lives and these relationships can be friendship, marital or any other relationship. These relationships help you overcome bad times and dissatisfactions in life.

Here are some tips that can help you build healthy friendships.

be a good listener

Make sure you are listening carefully to your friends, showing empathy, and understanding them. This helps to build trust and make your friends feel valued. This is important for a healthy friendship and is beneficial for your mental health.

Show appreciation

Try to regularly express gratitude and appreciation to your friends. When you acknowledge their impact on your life, it strengthens your relationship and helps improve your mental health.

communicate

Keep open and honest communication. Resolve your misunderstandings and conflicts calmly and respectfully. Clear communication helps avoid unnecessary tension and strengthens friendships which is important for mental health.

set boundaries

Be sure to set and respect personal boundaries. Healthy friendships require mutual respect for each other. Setting boundaries helps ensure that the relationship remains balanced and that there is no emotional exhaustion.

be reliable

When you are present for your friends, keep promises, and maintain confidentiality, it helps build trust. Trust is the foundation of any healthy relationship and helps bring emotional stability.

Join in on the activities

Participate in activities that both you and your friends can participate in and enjoy. Shared experiences help you create lasting memories, build deeper connections, and improve your overall well-being.

Help

Support them during difficult times. Make sure you are listening to them, helping them, or being emotionally supportive when they need it. When you support them and get help from them during difficult times, it strengthens the friendship and helps build emotional resilience.

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