How To Navigate A Fading Friendship

Friendship is one of life’s biggest blessings. It’s incredibly special finding someone that vibes with your soul and rides all the ups and downs with you. As time ticks on and life takes us in new directions it’s inevitable that, some, friendships will begin to drift away. There are a million and one reasons why friendships may change over time but the most important thing to remember is that, unfortunately, it’s a part of life. When you find yourself standing at crossroads with someone you call a friend here are a few ways to deal with the wave of emotions as you navigate through a change.

4 Things To Do When A Friendship Starts To Fade:

1.  Don’t Point Fingers
Your ride or die relocated for a new job, fell in love, bought a house and basically seems to be living in a whole different universe then you. If you are feeling left in the dust, it’s easy to point fingers and throw shade but if you have any hope of keeping this friendship alive then take a deep breath before word vomiting something hurtful. The worst thing you can do in a friendship is feel resentment when another goes through major life changes. The thing about a friendship, like any relationship, is that it needs to be able to grow with the changes and not resist them. Take a moment to step back and look at the core values of your friendship and if the relationship is important enough to you then you two, together, will adjust to the new circumstances to keep your friendship alive.

2. Take People For What They Are Worth
As life goes on, it’s key to take people for what they are worth. You know that one friend that’s the go to when you need a night out on the town? Recognize that she probably isn’t the one to lean on if you’re in the need of a deep life conversation. Recognizing the unique qualities in each of the present relationships in your life will save you from running a friendship into the ground. Don’t be the slave driver friend that expects the friends in her life to be all the things, that isn’t a realistic expectation to hold over someone’s head.

3. The Bottom Line
A friendship, of any capacity, should never feel like an obligation. Your friends should want to engage with you and the things that you bring to the table in a mutually beneficial manner. The bottom line is that a true friendship should remain on a 50/50 effort level. If the percentage starts to drastically decrease, then that might be the sign to pick up the phone and have a tough conversation with him / her.

4. Don’t Let The Memories Fade
Despite your best effort, it’s never easy to watch a friendship fade away however it is important to recognize the silver lining; moving on does not mean that the memories should fade away. If you and a friend have reached your last chapter, hold on to all the good times and know that at the end of the day you will always have those laughs to reflect on. People come into our lives for a reason; either a lesson, a blessing or a mixture of both.

Your friend,
Chels

Shout-out to my baby faced sorority sisters in the cover photo before an 80s themed party. Crazy how time flies, huh? Sending my love to each of you sweet girls! #RollTide #PhiMu