Being a friend has taken on a whole new meaning with the explosion of social media. We connect and share information with a wide network of people. So it has made me ponder the meaning of friendship. Are all of your friends on Facebook really your friends?
I recently had a conversation about a Facebook post. If someone were to post a comment about one of your friends would you automatically believe it? Or do you know your friend well enough to know if the comment is true or not?
This thought made me reflect on what I think is the difference between a true friend and a Facebook friend. Here are the five main points I captured.
- A true friend will have your back. They will stand up for you even when you are not around. They will be there for you when you need help.
- A true friend will give you energy, not drain you of energy. These are the people you enjoy hanging out with.
- A true friend will support you whether you succeed or fail. Friends that support you in success are easy to find. Friends that stick around and support you in failure are the people that really care about you.
- A true friend will motivate you to be better, not hold you back. They will support you in your goals and dreams. They will never try to shoot you down and hold you at their comfort level.
- A true friend is someone that you improve their life as much as they improve yours.
Don’t get me wrong, social media has a place in our lives. It has allowed people to connect and stay connected with much less effort. But if I were you, I would not count on your 500 Facebook friends to have your back when you need it. Don’t let them get in your way with your true friends.