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When Friends Disagree
Friendships have their ups and downs, and disagreements can degenerate into misunderstanding, conflict and animosity. What can you do to keep from fracturing your friendships?
by Becky Sweat
Nicole hasn’t spoken to her best friend, Emily, in nearly a month. "It’s beginning to feel like we were never friends at all," claims Nicole. "But it’s not my fault. She’s upset with me because I got the lead role in the school play, the same part she was trying for. But I can’t help it if the director thought I would be better for the part than Emily."
When Jason and Ryan started a lawn-mowing business, everything was fine at first. "But then Jason started insisting that everything be done his way, and he wouldn’t listen to any of my ideas," Ryan says. "Finally one day I couldn’t take it anymore, and I told him exactly what I thought. It turned into a huge blowup. That was three weeks ago. We folded up the business and have had nothing to do with each other since then."
Sooner or later friends are bound to misunderstand each other. A pal may forget to return your phone call, fail to write, ignore an important event, refuse to listen, pass along thoughtless comments or spitefully compete. These things happen to the best of friends, and they happen throughout our lives. But, no matter why or how you and your friend disagree, the important thing is to make sure to resolve your differences before they scar your friendship.
Here are some suggestions to help you work out your differences and reconcile with your friend before it’s too late.
Anger begets anger
• Talk about it.
The most important thing you can do after a disagreement with a friend is to talk out the problem. This will give your friend a chance to tell his side of the story and you a chance to get your feelings off your chest.
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