5 Ways You Can Fix Your Broken Friendship

Sometimes, friendships reach a point where things only appear to go wrong. In the beginning, it may have been smooth sailing: road trips, five-hour video chat sessions, binge watching your favorite shows together, etc. However, you and your best friend could begin to face times where the two of you suddenly clash over things as simple as who cooks the best dinners, who can tie their shoes the fastest and who is more environmentally friendly. You speak to each other less and your friendship comes across as impossible to repair. With that being said, allow me to suggest five ways you can fix your broken friendship.

1. Be the bigger person.

If the two of you are at odds over who ruined the cherry scones you made for the company potluck, chances are you’ll add fuel to the fire by pointing the finger. Rather than escalate an already dangerous situation, blame yourself and apologize for accidentally scorching the cherry scones. It doesn’t matter if your friend abandoned them to flirt with the gorgeous pizza delivery person while you were at work. Taking ownership can help diffuse the roughest disagreements.

2. “Where did we go wrong?”

Prior to the cherry scone incident, there was a catalyst that lead you both to assault one another with charred bodies of food that were supposed to be cherry scones. Inquiring about where things went south might receive a response of “I don’t know.” On the other hand, your friend may recall the exact time where things soured. Either way, it creates a necessary dialogue bringing you both on the road to repair.

3. Wait.

Following an earth-shattering argument, you and your best friend won’t be on the best speaking terms or any speaking terms at all. Passwords, moods and locks will change drastically. However, time could warm you up to the notion of reconciliation. Don’t rush in though. It could take a while for you to earn your name back in that Instagram bio. On the flip side of that, don’t wait forever. Extended periods of time without communication can cause fatal damage to a fence that could have been mended.

4. Send a peace offering.

Sending that beautifully wrapped box of cherry cordials to your friend who despises everything chocolate, has a nearly debilitating fear of cherries and expressed no contact with you five days ago won’t patch things up; you’ll be portrayed as a cold-hearted manipulator. To prevent appearing manipulative or downright evil, wait things out perhaps two or three weeks. Send something you both enjoy like videos of cats acting like dogs or the link to a song from your favorite artist. Whatever it is, make it thoughtful and make it chocolate and cherry-free.

5. Forgive.

If you’re the person on the receiving end of those terrifying cherry cordials, this one’s for you. You may hate that type of dessert but consider that careful thought might have been placed into that gift even if it causes you to lose your mind and faint on sight. Forgiveness can be tougher than holding a grudge but holding a grudge leads you to harbor negative energy you don’t need to hold in. The first step to expelling that energy is forgiveness. It should be easier to accomplish if the positive outweighs the negative. Takes time but it can save something worth saving.