Friendship can be hazardous to your health. You cannot have a friendship that is all good times, joy and laughter. When you enter a friendship, you have entered into an agreement which limits you immediately. To sustain it, you have to be vulnerable and make sacrifices. Just like a friend has the capability to bring you happiness, they can also hurt you.

The reality is not whether you will be hurt by a friendship, but most likely when. The key is how you react based on the hurt. The normal or basic response is to pull back and isolate from people. However, what most of us need to do is pursue further relationship with the one that hurt us and with others so we can heal and move on. If it goes unresolved, that will probably affect you more than them. Yes, life is full of hurts, but it should also be full of close bonds and connections with those we consider friends and loved ones.

Prescription:  Is there a friend you’ve alienated because they’ve hurt you?  Consider reconnecting with them and resolving the issues.