How Strong Is Your Friendship? 5 Signs It's Built to Last
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True BFFs stick together through good times and bad, and while many friendships evolve as the years pass, the most committed relationships have staying power thanks to a few key attributes. Friendship takes center stage in The Honor List, a forthcoming film partnership between Lionsgate and POPSUGAR Films that follows a group of former best friends who rediscover the power of friendship after a tragedy. Whether you're still in school or rounding your 10th reunion, the film's themes of love for your crew and optimism despite obstacles will have you nodding your head in agreement. Read on to discover the most important factors that will predict the future of your friendship, and don't forget to get the film on iTunes on May 11!
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Consider Your Conversations
Predicting how your friendship will develop over the years can be as simple as looking at the quality of your conversations. The very best friends are able to quickly pick up the pattern of their conversations regardless of the amount of time that has passed, whether the topic is current events or the latest celebrity fashion faux pas.
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Contemplate Your Values — and Whether Your BFF Respects Those That Aren't Mutual
If you adhere to a strict vegan diet because of your love for animals, it's infinitely easier to spend time with someone who also eschews meat — or at the very least respects your reasons for steering clear! Great friends either adhere to the same moral code or honor your commitment to it. As your values grow and change, it's important to make sure your best friend is considerate of your preferences, whatever they may be. Case in point: The Honor List's Sophie places great importance on maintaining her virginity until marriage. While other members of her crew have differing stances on the matter, their appreciation for her choice maintains harmony in their relationships.
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Think About Your Common Interests
Whether you sealed your friendship by bonding over a mutual love of a certain boy band or your shared confusion over the laws of physics, friendships that endure often center on common interests. While you may not discuss the same books or movies you raved about in middle school, shared obsessions are the cornerstones of solid relationships.
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Focus on Your Feelings
How do you feel when you leave an interaction with your BFF? If you end your weekly bestie brunch feeling fulfilled and upbeat, this relationship is likely built to last. Friendships that thrive are marked by positivity and optimism. After all, sharing a laugh with your best friend has the remarkable ability to transform a lousy day into one full of joy.
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Ask Yourself If Your BFF Is a Solid Part of Your Support System
We all need a helping hand to boost our confidence during challenging times and to cheer us on after a win — and truly exceptional friends offer both types of encouragement. In other words, the friend who helped ease your breakup blues by offering a shoulder to cry on or was a partner for that endorphin-boosting HIIT class is a keeper! When an unexpected turn of events casts a shadow over the lives of the the crew at the center of The Honor List, their strong bond brings them back together despite their differences, giving them the courage to continue on.
