6 Types of Friendships – Which One Do You Have?
There are numerous types of friendships in the world.
We have our lifelong friends, occasional besties, and even our friendships with benefits (ooh).
If you’re interested in knowing which friendships you have and which one you are, then enjoy reading!
FRIENDLY DISCLAIMER: This video is for educational purposes and is based on personal opinions. This video is not a substitute for professional advice, but general guidance. We advise you to always listen to your intuition and always do what is right for you.
1. THE FRIENDSHIP WITH BENEFITS.
First, we’re not talking about the movie, as funny as it may be.
Friendships with benefits are people with whom you’re in a pleasing, casual relationship with.
They could be your coworker, your schoolmate, and even a jolly friend from your local club.
They could also be the friends that help you solve a specific problem.
For example, are you friends with an artist?
If you are, then you can probably reach out to them and ask for help when you have projects related to that field (with their consent and compensation).
This type of relationship is mutual. You both have benefits you can enjoy. How many times has a friend asked you for a favor for something only you can do?
These types of friends are friendships of pleasure. You enjoy each other’s presence, but not too much that life seems barren without them.
How many people do you know who fit in this category, and what type of help do you extend to those friends in return?
2. THE OCCASIONAL BUDDY.
As sad as it sounds, you can’t be with your friends all of the time.
Do you have a friend that you’re on really good terms with but guys can’t frequently meet due to distance and schedule?
These are your occasional buddies, and no matter how rarely you meet them, they always know how to make you laugh until you cry.
These types of friends are those you’re pretty chill with.
You don’t freak out when they’re not there, but you massively enjoy their presence when they are.
What you want with them is a good time. A time for reminiscing memories, and catching up on each other’s life.
A lot of the time, the reunions between you two are random.
You could just be attending a concert and see them there, too! Afterward, you may decide to grab a cup of coffee (or a shot of alcohol, if that’s your style) and have a good laugh.
Do you know anyone like this?
3. THE REALITY CHECK.
It sounds harsh, but as Lizzo says: truth hurts.
Have you encountered a friend that’s so brutally honest that their own blunt words hurt the people around them?
Yep. This is the reality check type of friendship.
These types of people are straightforward, and most of the time they say what’s truly on their mind, regardless of the consequences.
This type of friend is someone you may usually avoid out of fear of getting yourself emotionally bruised by their candor, but in serious times, you go to them for help.
Because sometimes, all you want is a genuine, hurtful truth, rather than a lie that makes you feel better temporarily.
Let’s say you’re stuck in a toxic relationship and don’t know what to do next. You may feel inclined to go to this friend and get a truth slap about what’s happening to you. A reality check.
And you cherish them for that. Just not always.
4. THE MENTORS.
In a lifetime, you will meet a lot of people who have experienced more success, failure, and regret than you’ve ever known.
And these are the type of people you go to for advice.
They’re called the mentors, and through them, you get to travel through life just a little bit easier.
Mentors are people who may be older or more knowledgeable than you on a certain topic.
They can be teachers, therapists, friends, family, or anyone that offers you different perspectives aside from the ones you currently have.
Your friendship with them is something you treasure because they possess the gift of empathy.
They make you feel understood.
No matter how old you are, you will find that there are a lot of mentors in this world.
People of different backgrounds, cultures, religions – they all have something to teach.
All you have to do is listen. And remember,
You are always a mentor to someone else.
When was the last time someone asked you for advice?
5. FRIENDS OF CULTURE.
How many places have you traveled to?
Which was your favorite one?
Whenever you travel, your mind gets a tad more open to what is happening outside your comfort zone.
You eat unfamiliar food, see foreign locations, and what’s even more exciting is you meet new friends!
The friends you encounter when you’re in another country or when you’re learning a new language are called your cultural friends.
They are people with almost completely different backgrounds than you, and their own stories make you realize that the world is truly a big place that can fit multitudes. Civilizations. History.
All different, yet united.
Your cultural friends will introduce you to their customs. They will talk about their upbringing and welcome you to their way of life.
They are special because they open up different parts of you. These little branches complete your identity and make you feel whole.
You will be filled with a different kind of love. One that is embedded with acceptance, understanding, and union.
And it is also what you give in return.
6. BFF. BORN FOR FRIENDSHIP.
Ah, the constants.
How many friends can you say have stayed with you even after a terrible, huge fight or mistake?
There are times in life when you have to say you’re cutting off someone for good.
It’s a form of self-care, and as you grow, you learn to let go of toxic people.
But have you ever met someone you never wanted to let go of?
Those people are what you might call your BFFs. Your Best Friend Forever, or someone Born For Friendship.
It’s not easy, having a best friend.
It’s a relationship, too. You devote time, effort, and commitment to it.
Some people choose not to have a best friend at all because of the energy it takes out of them.
But if you do have your share of these lifelong friends, then you also understand how much they’re worth it!
They’re the people you spend your wildest moments with. You’re comfortable with them, so much that you feel easy letting out farts or burps in front of them.
They’ve proven themselves to be worth your trust and time because of the ups and downs you’ve experienced together.
You’re fairly confident that you want to be with them for the rest of your life.
Because of this, you will try your best to fix any misunderstandings and disagreements between each other to maintain a healthy friendship.
Here’s a piece of good advice about looking for a partner: If they don’t treat you as well as your best friend treats you, then they’re not worth your time.
After all, how can your friends do it and not them?
Your best friends know you best, sometimes even more than you know yourself.
And you love them for that.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
After reading the article, do you feel like giving your friends a long, warm hug?
What about you? What type of friend are you?
Please share your answers and stories down below. We really appreciate hearing about your experiences.
If you know someone who will find this relatable, then please don’t hesitate to share it with them.
Lastly, don’t forget to call your friends and tell them you love them!
READ MORE
- 5 Friends You Should NEVER Take For Granted
- 7 Signs It’s Time to Cut Off Your “Friend”
- 7 Signs It’s Only Friendship, Not LOVE
- How To Make Friends as an Introvert
- Signs Your Online Friend Likes You Back
REFERENCES:
Anderson, S. (2017, September 12). 5 Things that are Needed for a Friendship to Grow – Friender App. Friender. Retrieved November 23, 2021, from https://frienderapp.com/things-needed-friendship-grow/
Fucarino, C. (2018, January 10). 8 Types Of Friends You Need To Have in Your Life. Lifehack. Retrieved November 23, 2021, from https://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/8-types-friends-you-need-have-your-life.html
Hart, C. (2021, January 29). Why Are We So Honest? Understanding our human origins is the key to understanding our truthfulness. Psychology Today. Retrieved November 23, 2021, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-nature-deception/202101/why-are-we-so-honest
Kelly, M. (2010, May 6). The 3 Kinds of Friendships. Marie Claire Magazine. Retrieved November 23, 2021, from https://www.marieclaire.com/sex-love/a4028/friendships-aristotle-utility-ethics-lifestyles/
Lerner, H. (2016, July 13). 3 Times Honesty Hurts More Than it Helps. WomenWorking. Retrieved November 23, 2021, from https://www.womenworking.com/3-times-honesty-hurts-more-it-helps/
S. (2021, August 17). 5 Self Care Tips During Difficult Times. Psych2Go. Retrieved November 23, 2021, from https://psych2go.net/5-self-care-tips-during-difficult-times/
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