Be Your Own Best Friend

You can be your own best friend or your own worst enemy.

Most of us spend our lives being half-hearted friends to ourselves.  Alternating between criticizing ourselves severely and rationalizing bad behaviors.

First, what does being your own best friend really mean?

Start with the idea of what a great friend would mean to you.  What would this person be like?  How would they treat you?  What would they say to you?  Why would you want this person in your life?

I have had the pleasure of having great friends in my life.  Even some friends who I consider my best friends, at least for a portion of my life.

And just having best friends for a portion of your life is pretty sweet.  Life has a lot of twists and turns.  Your friends at some point may not be possible later due to circumstances totally beyond your control.

So, enjoy however much time you have with your best friends.

Be Your Own Best Friend

But you can guarantee that you will always be there with you.  You aren't going anywhere.  Your parents can move you across the country away from your favorite childhood friends.  You can graduate high school or college and never see your good friends again. You can take a job on the other side of the world.  Your best friend can become so busy with his life he has no real time to spend with you.

What Makes a Good Friend from - Reachout

Favorite ideas -

A good friend:

  • is there for you, no matter what
  • doesn’t judge you
  • doesn’t put you down or deliberately hurt your feelings
  • is kind and respectful to you
  • is someone whose company you enjoy
  • is loyal
  • is trustworthy and willing to tell you the truth, even when it’s hard for you to hear
  • laughs with you
  • sticks around when things get tough
  • makes you smile
  • is there to listen
  • comforts you when you cry.

But you will always be there with yourself.  Building yourself up.  Being happy to see yourself each day.  Saying I love you to yourself in the mirror.  Treating yourself with kindness, dignity and respect.

Challenging yourself to get better when you need to.

Watching out for yourself.

Taking care of yourself.

Not egging yourself on to take stupid risks.

Sticking up for yourself.

Going easy on yourself when you need that.

Knowing yourself and what you need to do to be happy.

Loving you.  Treating you with gentleness and kindness.

Never being harsh and cruel to yourself.

Be Your Own Best Friend
Skip to 4:00 minute mark for some thoughts on this

My dad gave me the guidance to be my own best friend when I was in my 40's.  I wish he would have told me this as a child.  But he did not discover this secret to happiness and contentment until later in his life either.

Be Your Own Best Friend Wrap Up

It's great to have good friends and family that love you and do not place unreasonable demands on you.

But, certainly, you can love yourself, avoid placing unreasonable demands, restrictions and be your own best friend.

› › Be Your Own Best Friend

The only way I could become the happier man I am today was by leaving my wife.  You might be in the same situation I was in.  I suggest you take a look at my book - Leave Your Wife & Become a Happier Man with the 3 Step System.

Click to go to learn more about the book

Share a Comment About This Topic.

Do you have a comment about this or something to add? Share it!

[ ? ]

Author Information (optional)

To receive credit as the author, enter your information below.

(first or full name)

(e.g., City, State, Country)

Submit Your Contribution

  •  submission guidelines.


(You can preview and edit on the next page)

Show / Hide