7 Signs That It’s Time to Part With a Friend

True friendship is a rare commodity. The happiness of a true, deep friendship is so special that you wish it would last till the end of your days. However, both parties must feel the same way about the relationship. If only one of them has the unconditional desire for an everlasting friendship, that won’t be sufficient. If you feel that your best friend is no longer on your wavelength, if you notice that something has changed between you, something that may not seem significant at first glance, but which you suddenly perceive as disturbing, then it's time to part with that friend. We'll introduce you to what those signs might be in this article.

1. You can’t trust him.

Trust is the basis of every relationship, especially one with a friend. A true friend is someone you can trust with anything, even a secret. He won't take advantage of it, he won't use it against you, and he won't tell anyone else. If your trust in a friend is fading, you have to do something. Without trust, no relationship works. Trust can be lost in a number of ways. Either because of a single incident, or in worst case due to repeated betrayals. You can forgive your friend every time, but it is better to end the relationship. Friendship is a mutual affair. The relationship must be balanced. If your friend is never there when you need him, yet you’ll do anything for him, then it's time to part company in this unbalanced situation.

2. You can't be yourself.

If being in a relationship with a friend means giving up your dreams, you need to leave. Cut your ties, so that you can live your life, achieve your dreams, and follow through with your plans. The same is true the other way around. Your friend also has the right to pursue his dreams and realize himself. In a true friendship, both parties are allowed to be who they are and who they want to be. If you feel in your friend's presence that he doesn't accept you for who you are, if you you believe that you have to perform an act—a role—for him, or feel pressured to behave unnaturally when around him, then there is something wrong with your friendship. A good friend accepts you with all your faults. So if you feel you have to behave unnaturally when around him, let him go and find a real friend.

3. You hardly spend any time together.

Friendships break when friends become physically separated from each other. You take up different professions, change places of residence, and lose track of each other. Such a development is completely normal and no one is bothered by it. The good memories remain. If you hardly share any common experiences in your current relationship with a friend, then you cannot create any common memories. If there are no common interests, there can be no sharing of them. In this way, you become more and more distant from each other. At first you don't notice it, but eventually you notice that you hardly see each other anymore and you have nothing to say to each other. There is no point in keeping such a friendship alive artificially. Friendship should be stimulating and an energy recharging station. If it isn't, you should end it and look for people who share your interests and in whose presence you feel comfortable.

4. You have a different circle of friends.

It's time to let go of a friend when you would prefer to mingle with other people. If your circle of friends changes and your friend is no longer around, it's a clear sign that something crucial has changed in your friendship. A different circle of friends suggests different interests. If your friend is into soccer, but you are into dancing, at some point it's not a good fit. Your friend looks for soccer fans with whom he can celebrate or commiserate. You look for dance partners with whom to spend your free time. So, a different circle of friends is a clear sign that it's time to part ways.

5. You feel manipulated.

There should be no manipulation in a friendship. Playing with a friend's feelings and possibly using them for your own purposes is not a basis for a true friendship. The moment you realize your friendship is complicated, it is time to end it. Because friendship only becomes complicated when you cannot clearly say that everything is fine and feels right. It is possible that your friend is taking advantage of your helpfulness and inability to say no. If that's the case, let him go and end the friendship, because you're doing things you don't really want to do. You are making excuses for your friend and just going along with his manipulative behavior. In a friendship, there should be no such compulsion.

6. You do all the work in the relationship.

If your friend fails to live up to agreements you’ve made together, yet you do everything you can to bring the agreements to fruition, then the balance in the relationship is not right. A friendship thrives on the contributions of both partners. If such mutual contribution is not taking place, it is time to let go of the friend. If you find yourself excusing your friend's behavior, something is wrong. It's not you who has to excuse his mistakes for him. You can't fill both sides in a friendship and take up your friend's position. Either he cooperates because his friendship with you is worth the effort, or he does not. If he chooses the latter path, do yourself a favor, let him go and find a better friend.

7. You doubt that the friendship is true.

There is no doubt about a true friendship or a true friend. Everything feels good and right. You are close, trust each other blindly, and enjoy each other's presence. There may come a day when you realize that you have nothing more to say to each other. Then you need to consider whether the friendship still exists or whether it is more of a habit that you can't let go. A habit is not automatically good. You can get used to anything, but that especially shouldn't be the case with a friendship. A shared past does not automatically mean a lifelong togetherness. If there are discords within the relationship that lead to an uneasy gut feeling, then you should listen to your gut feeling and end the friendship.

Today’s Conclusion

True friends are the best thing that can happen to you. They inspire and make you feel good, happier, and ultimately healthier. After all, life is easier when you can share your experiences with someone you trust. If there are signs of breaking up with a friend, it is better not to put the decision on the back burner. Better an end with horror than horror without end. That's it for today.