Help! I'm Fighting With My Friend

[image error] All friendships have their good times and bad times, their ups and their downs. Why is it though that the bad times are just so bad?  The answer is because the friendship has such a HUGE value in your life and your friend's life. Melissa Healy, a staff writer for the Los Angeles Times shares about this value.  "Women are keepers of each other's secrets, boosters of one another's wavering and confidences, co-conspirators in life's adventures.  Through laughter, tears and an inexhaustible river of talk, they keep each other well, and make each other better."  When you're fighting with your friend, you are missing out on all that laughter, talk and adventure.  Fighting with your friend creates a paradox.  You need your friend to listen and support you as to what has happened, BUT it is your friend who you are upset with so you don't have anyone to talk which just makes you more irritated with the whole situation.  Round and round the wheel spins. What do you do? You meet the situation head on.  You become the woman who is going to heal this friendship and talk about it. 1.   Think about the situation.  What is really going on and why are you really fighting? 2.   Talk to your friend, face to face.  Tell her how you feel.  Ask how she feels.  Share why you want your friendship healed. NO emails, texting, or IM's! 3.  Be calm and open with your friend.  Share from your heart and really listen to what your friend says.  Do not get defensive. 4.   Give or receive an apology if the situation calls for it. 5.   Understand how and why this conflict happened so that you both can learn from it. 6.   Give your friendship time to heal. Friendships are truly valuable commodities in our lives.  Before ending a friendship try these 6 simple steps and see if you can heal your friendship.