Elements of Building Strong Friendships

Elements of Building Strong FriendshipsWhat are some of the elements of building a solid friendship?

Strong friendships withstand the test of time and are authentic. One must take down their mask that hides their true self from others. A relationship that is real includes both a person’s strengths and weaknesses. It’s essential to be open, vulnerable, honest, and sincere with others. And share struggles with a friend. When individuals share their struggles with grace-filled friends, they find that they accepted regardless of their faults, and they experience the joy of acceptance.

Friendships do not happen automatically—they must be cultivated. It’s easy to lose friends by neglecting to stay in touch with them. Spending time together is required; as often as possible, keep in touch with each other. Make the phone call or text to initiate getting together with each other. After all, friends are committed and devoted to one another.While it is a natural tendency to withdraw from others, it can often become unhealthy. Taking a break from people is fine occasionally, but isolation is deadly. Remember, solitary confinement is one of the worst punishments devised by mankind. (more…)

Recovery During Difficult Times

Recovery During Difficult TimesIt is clear that persevering through difficulty
and pain is the God-ordained path to maturity.” – Steve Arterburn

Has life been hard for you lately? Have you lost your job? Are you going through a divorce? Have you or a loved one been struggling with health issues? To make matters even worse, you are also struggling with addiction.

But overcoming an addiction is easier said than done. To help you, here are some things you can do to recover, even when times are difficult.

To start, have a good support system in place.
Are you going to a 12-step recovery group? If not, we recommend that you find a Life Recovery Group in your area. (more…)