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What are some of your favorite memories with your best friends?
Having a best friend adds so many wonderful experiences to our lives.
They provide us with care, support,
confidence and happiness.
When you have such a close friendship with someone,
you do things for each other because they are so special and important to you.
So, here are eight things best friends do for each other.
1. They make the bad times a little better
Have you ever gone through something really sad, frustrating, or embarrassing?
Was your best friend there to help you?
Did they make that experience a little more bearable?
Research shows that simply having your best friend there with you
when you go through a tough time can have a positive effect on your brain.
It turns out, best friends can buffer the effects of a negative experience
by preventing a huge increase in stress and a decrease in self-worth.
Just by being there, and showing support,
you can help them overcome the experience in a tremendous way.
2. You two are real with each other
Don’t you feel most comfortable turning to your best friend when you want an honest opinion?
You know that they’ll be honest with you,
even when it might be a hard truth to swallow.
Sometimes, we can confuse supporting one another with being in agreement all the time.
In actuality, true support means that you care about them enough to stand up for them.
You have their best interest at heart,
and make sure to tell them what you really think when they ask for your opinion.
3. They know when to take a step back
Even though best friends are typically not afraid to be honest,
they also know when it might not be their place to offer an opinion.
According to therapist Miriam Kirmayer from Psychology Today,
honesty in a friendship is key,
but the truth should come out when it is warranted or voluntary.
Best friends don’t constantly criticize each other out of the blue,
nor do they typically push each other to share things they don’t want to.
If you don’t want to talk about it, your best friend would respect your boundaries and step back.
4. You mutually encourage each other’s personal growth
Do you bring out the best in each other?
Do you encourage each other to try new things?
The support that best friends can provide is unconditional and comforting.
That level of support alone is enough to help you take chances you wouldn’t normally take,
try new things, believe in yourself, and explore who you are as an individual.
Stepping out of your comfort zone is difficult
because it comes with so many uncertainties,
but best friends can help ease your mind,
and you want to push each other to be your best selves.
5. You make each other happy
Have you felt happier since meeting your best friend?
A 2017 study shows that especially during teenage years,
having strong, close friendships can not only increase your self-worth,
but can also help decrease signs of depression and anxiety as you move into young adulthood.
This means that best friends can quite literally make each other happier and more self-confident.
6. You defend each other when no one is looking
You should always be able to count on your best friend to have your back,
whether or not you are around to see it.
Best friends have a lot of trust in each other,
and a lot of that comes from the confidence that they would never betray you.
When it comes to gossip, a best friend would not only stop rumors,
but also defend you from all the potential lies being spread about you.
A best friend would disengage from talking bad about you and wouldn’t want to smear your name.
7. You stay loyal to each other
Are you and your best friend loyal to each other?
The root of loyalty lies in showing up when you are needed,
be it physically or emotionally.
Best friends show their loyalty by being there for you through the good times and the bad.
They are there to comfort you through your lows and celebrate your highs.
You check in on each other routinely or step in to help when the other needs it.
And 8. You give each other a second chance
Have you and your best friend ever gotten into a fight?
Did they cross one of your boundaries, or unintentionally upset you?
Everyone makes mistakes and even best friends can have fights and disagreements.
It’s important to recognize each other’s perspectives
and work towards mending any fences in the relationship.
There are of course times where you may feel it’s best to end the friendship.
But when this is not the case,
remember to be empathetic with your best friend,
apologize sincerely, be accountable for your actions,
and work together to better your friendship.
We hope you enjoyed learning about some of the things best friends do for each other.
Did anything remind you of you and your best friend? Let us know!
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The studies and references are listed in the description below.
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