Restoring Friendships — Communicating Well To repair a friendship you need to understand how to communicate that someone has hurt you and feel safe talking about feelings. Although it is a sensitive issue, these are three other ways to think about it:
Validate and Acknowledge Feelings
It is important to acknowledge the feelings and emotions surrounding actions of the past. First you have to admit the damage that you have done. This action show empathy and a readiness to learn about your friend point of view. Instead, if you listen without getting defensive in reply, it will allow for better communication. Parrot back even the most challenging things you hear, so your customers feel heard and begin to trust you.
Establishing a Dialogue-safe Space
Begin the discussion in a relaxed atmosphere as this will give you both freedom to say what’s on your mind. Propose meeting somewhere that feels neutral and go into the conversation with both kindness and positivity. Get ready to objectively listen and delay the defense response until your friend has said all that they need. Using this approach will facilitate a more fruitful exchange and reduce the chance of miscommunication.
Focus on Moving Forward
Do not linger on incidents from the past; steer the conversation to rebuilding this relationship instead. Talk about what you both find vital in the connection and how you can provide help to one another. Be prepared to give a little and show that you are serious about meeting the demands.friendship repair (ad) But also, know when to wave the white flag; some friendships are untenable, and that is okay — because respect goes in all directions.
Ultimately, mending a friendship takes humility, time and good communication skills. If you acknowledge the emotions, create a space for discourse and most importantly have hope in a future place — You are on your way to a healthier relationship!
