Ever notice how afraid some people are to say what they really mean? While tact is important, sometimes it seems like people are way too interested in “keeping the peace”… even if it means never telling the full truth. Of course, conflict isn’t easy, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t valuable at times. That’s why everyone needs at least one person in their life who will tell it like it is. Sometimes when you’re too close to something, it’s hard to see it clearly. Objective advice has a way of bringing things into perspective, which is something we all need sometimes, whether we like it or not.
- Objective advice is hard to come by. Obviously a friend only has your best interests at heart, so even their advice can’t be 100% objective. But it comes a lot closer than people who just want to avoid confrontation at all costs. Short of a therapist, a friend who isn’t afraid to be honest with you even when it’s hard is the closest you’ll get to real objective advice.
- You probably have enough people telling you what you want to hear. There’s never a shortage of people who will never really make it past acquaintance status. But the difference between a friend and a best friend is the ability to tell each other anything and know your bond is strong enough to survive it all.
- It can never hurt to consider a different perspective. It’s always nice to get a different perspective every once in awhile. Sometimes people who see things differently than you will bring up a point you never considered and it’s like a light going on in your head.
- They’ll help you understand how you come across to other people. We’ve all wondered at some point what someone else was thinking about us. Sometimes it’s hard to tell how you’re being received, and that’s why having a friend who will tell you when you’re kind of being a bitch is invaluable.
- They’ll teach you that conflict doesn’t have to be negative. Since they aren’t afraid to tell you when they’re pissed at you, you’re probably going to have an argument every once in awhile. But because they don’t hide their feelings and let it fester, you’re able to work through issues before they do irreparable damage.
- They don’t play games. They mean what they say and they do what they say they’re going to do. That means they’re probably super reliable and there for you when you need them too, which is something we all need in our lives.
- They can shake you out of a denial spiral. Once you put energy into a good solid denial campaign, it gets even harder to break yourself out of an unhealthy cycle. Not many people will be able to bring you to your senses, but this friend always knows what to say to make you listen.
- You’ll learn how to cope with the truth. If you rarely have to face the cold hard truth, imagine how difficult it’s going to be when you have no other choice? Practice makes perfect, so so might as well take those rose colored glasses off and face reality.
- You’ll never wonder what they’re really thinking. There’s something comforting about knowing if they have a problem, you’re going to hear about it. It’s a relief to have one person who’s mind you’ll never have to read.
- They’ll always stick up for you. If there’s ever a moment where you don’t have the strength to fight for yourself, at least you’ll know they’re in your corner. If you can’t say it, they will. They’re loyal and you know they aren’t friends you for any other reason than they genuinely want to be.
