show me your friends essay

“Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future”: The Importance of Your Circle in Your Life

• Post author: Success Minded
• Post published: March 5, 2023
• Post category: Growth Mindset
• Post comments: 8 Comments

We’ve all heard the saying, “Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future” somewhere, and it has stuck in our heads ever since. And I don’t blame you. 

It is a compelling statement — and one which carries a tremendous message. 

The people we surround ourselves with can profoundly impact our lives, and this is particularly true when it comes to our friends. From childhood to adulthood, our friendships shape us in ways we may not even realize. 

Our social circles influence our beliefs, values, and behaviors and can have a significant impact on our personal growth and success. 

In this article, we will explore the importance of having a good circle of friends, their role in our lives, and how they can shape our future. So, buckle up, and let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

Origins of the saying

The saying “Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future” has become a famous internet quote many people have encountered on various social media platforms. Although the origins of the saying remain  unknown , it is often attributed to an  anonymous author . 

Recently, however, the saying gained popularity when self-proclaimed billionaire Dan Pena used a version of the phrase during an interview with London Real . 

The full quote by Dan Pena goes like this:  “Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future. You wanna know why you’re all f***ed up? Just look at the f***ing bums you hang around with!” 

However, it is essential to note that the quote was already circulating online before Dan Pena’s version. While the author of the original saying remains a mystery, the message remains clear — the company we keep has a significant impact on our lives and our future.

Life lessons to learn from the saying

The saying “Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future” teaches us several valuable life lessons that can help us improve our lives and achieve success.

Firstly, the saying highlights the significance of self-awareness and self-reflection.  By taking a closer look at the people we choose to surround ourselves with, we can gain valuable insights into our own beliefs, values, and aspirations. 

It is essential to recognize that our friends reflect a part of who we are and that we can learn much about ourselves by examining our social environment.

Secondly, the saying emphasizes the importance of taking responsibility for our choices.  We have the power to choose our friends and the people we allow into our lives. Therefore, we are responsible for the consequences of our choices. 

We cannot blame others for our shortcomings if we surround ourselves with negative influences. Instead, we must take ownership of our choices and make the necessary changes to improve our lives.

Lastly, the saying illustrates how our social environment plays a crucial role in shaping our future.  Our friends can either support or hinder our growth and development. Therefore, we must surround ourselves with positive and supportive friends who share our values, interests, and goals. 

With the right company, we can achieve great things and overcome any obstacles that come our way.

Role of Friends in Success

Our friends play a significant role in our lives, and their impact on our success cannot be overstated. From childhood to adulthood, the people we surround ourselves with can influence our goals, aspirations, and achievements.

Our friends can be a source of inspiration, motivation, and encouragement. They can provide us with emotional support, practical advice, and guidance to help us navigate life’s challenges. When we have supportive friends who believe in us, we feel more confident and motivated to pursue our dreams and aspirations.

On the other hand, negative influences can also significantly impact our success. Friends who are unsupportive, hostile, or critical can hinder our growth and prevent us from achieving our goals. Therefore, we must surround ourselves with positive and supportive friends who share our values and ambitions.

Many successful individuals have attributed their success to the support of their friends. 

Take, for instance, Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, who credits his success to his close-knit group of friends from Harvard. His friends provided him with emotional support, financial backing, and technical expertise that helped him turn his vision for Facebook into a reality.

Another example is Oprah Winfrey, who has always valued the importance of her friendships. She attributes her success to her close friends, who have provided her with the support, encouragement, and guidance she needed to achieve her goals.

The Power of Influence

Have you ever noticed that the people you hang out with most tend to influence your beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors significantly? That’s right; our friends have the power to shape us in ways we may not even realize.

Peer pressure is a real thing, and it’s not just something that affects teenagers. It can happen to anyone at any age, and it can have a profound impact on our decision-making. Whether it’s the clothes we wear, the music we listen to, or the hobbies we pursue, our friends can influence us in a variety of ways.

While positive influences from our friends can be empowering and motivating, negative influences can be dangerous and destructive. It’s like a snowball effect; before we know it, we’re doing things we never thought we would.

It’s crucial to be aware of the power of influence that our friends can have on us. It’s essential to have a strong sense of self and values that we believe in. This way, we can resist negative influences and stay true to ourselves.

Negative Effects of Unwise Choices

Let’s be real; we’ve all made some unwise choices in our lives. Whether it’s eating that extra slice of pizza, skipping a workout, or staying up too late binge-watching our favorite show, we’ve all been there. 

But have you ever considered how unwise choices can also affect our friendships and, ultimately, our success?

Choosing the wrong friends can have a significant negative impact on our lives. It’s like a nasty infection that spreads and affects all aspects of our lives. Negative influences can affect our behavior, attitudes, and decisions. It’s like being stuck in a toxic bubble, and breaking free is hard.

Unwise choices can lead us to fall in with the wrong crowd, which can have long-lasting adverse effects. 

We may be tempted to engage in harmful behavior, such as drug use or excessive drinking, that can have a negative impact on our physical and mental health.

Moreover, negative influences can also affect our attitudes and beliefs. We may become more pessimistic and cynical, and our aspirations may diminish. 

We may even stop dreaming big and settle for less, thinking success is out of reach.

So, let’s just choose friends who uplift and inspire us and bring out the best in us. Let’s strive for positivity and success by surrounding ourselves with people who share our values and aspirations.

How to choose better friends (or create a better circle)

Now that you’ve understood the value of surrounding yourself with good friends, you must wonder, “how do I create a better circle of friends?” Or maybe, “How do I identify and attract more positive and supportive friends?”. 

Either way, we got you covered.

First and foremost, knowing what you’re looking for in a friend is essential. Shared values, interests, and goals build strong, long-lasting friendships. 

Think about the kind of people you want to surround yourself with and what qualities you admire in others. This will give you a starting point to identify potential friends who share your interests and values.

Another way to meet new people and potentially make new friends is through networking.  Attend social events or join groups or clubs that align with your interests.  This will allow you to meet new people who share your passions and allow you to build meaningful connections.

When you do meet someone you click with, take the initiative to invite them to do something together. It can be something as simple as grabbing coffee or trying a new activity. Building a strong foundation of trust and shared experiences can help foster a supportive and positive friendship.

Remember, it’s not about having a large circle of friends but about having a small group of positive and supportive individuals who uplift and inspire you.  Quality over quantity. Always.

How to avoid/remove negative friends

Let’s face it, sometimes we find ourselves in friendships that just aren’t good for us. Whether it’s a friend who brings us down or constantly puts us in bad situations, it’s important to recognize the negative impact they’re having on our lives and take action to distance ourselves.

One strategy is to simply limit the amount of time you spend with them. This could mean politely declining invitations or making excuses to avoid hanging out. 

It’s not always easy, but it’s important to prioritize your own well-being and surround yourself with people who lift you up.

If you find yourself in a situation where you need to have a difficult conversation with a toxic friend, it’s important to set boundaries and be honest about your feelings. Let them know how their behavior affects you and what you need from them to continue your relationship. 

Remember,  it’s okay to prioritize your own mental health and well-being.

In some cases, it may be necessary to cut ties completely with a toxic friend. This can be tough, but the benefits of letting go of negative relationships can be enormous. You’ll be freeing up emotional and mental energy to focus on positive relationships and your own personal growth.

In the end, remember that prioritizing your own well-being and mental health is always the right choice.

In conclusion, the saying “show me your friends and I’ll show you your future” holds a powerful message about our circle of friends’ impact on our lives. 

Our friends can influence our beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors and can play a significant role in our success or lack thereof.

We’ve discussed how to identify and attract positive and supportive friends, as well as how to distance ourselves from negative influences and toxic friendships. 

By prioritizing our own well-being and surrounding ourselves with positive people who share our values, interests, and goals, we can create a better circle of friends and ultimately achieve greater success and happiness.

It’s important to remember that choosing better friends is not just about achieving success but also about living a fulfilling life surrounded by people who bring us joy and support us through the ups and downs.

So, do you have friends like that who are adding to your personal growth and success? Let me know in the comments.

See you in the next post!

Success Minded

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Thanks for this explanation…Now I can teach my niece , how to select good friends and avoid toxic friends.🙂

I’m so glad you liked the article, Pratik. I wish your niece the best at finding good friends!😊

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• Curiosities

Show Me Who Your Friends Are and I'll Tell You Who You Are

A few months ago, I made a list of friends to use as points of reflection. It’s one of the best things I’ve done for personal development. I ask questions like:

• How are they fulfilled? Frustrated?
• What attitudes, behaviors, and choices enrich their fulfillment or multiply their frustration?
• How might I emulate a quality that serves them well?
• How might I take warning from their example?

When faced with tough decisions, I ask myself, “What would (insert name) do in this situation?”

The Achievers in my life nudge me toward urgent action. The warning I take from Achievers is enjoy the process and don’t bowl over people. Frankly, I bowl over people without anyone’s help.

Empaths nudge me toward consideration of others. The warning I take from Empaths is don’t make things harder than they actually are.

Optimistic friends teach me to lighten up. See the good side. The threat of optimism is underestimating difficulties.

Wooers remind me to build and maintain relationships. The threat of woo is talking too much and listening too little.

The Commanders in my life teach me to make decisions quicker. The warning I take from Commanders is don’t expect people to perform in their weaknesses.

Fundamental observation:

Those with the deepest commitment to personal development and growth experience more opportunity and contribution. They often overcome patterns of frustration that I see nagging others.

Effective self-reflection – with others in mind – grants entry to the influence of others in your life.

Get intentional about the influences you allow on your leadership.

“Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.” Unknown

What valuable lessons or warnings have you learned from others?

Bonus Material:

How to Learn from People Around You (Even if They Have Different Views) ( Forbes )

How to Succeed in Life by Learning from Others ( Life Optimizer )

Thanks for sharing.

Post navigation, 12 thoughts on “ show me your friends and i’ll show you your future ”.

Good post, which reminds me of Proverbs 11:14 “For lack of guidance a people falls; security lies in many counselors.” (NABRE)

Thanks Duane. I hadn’t thought about my list of friends in the context of counselors. That’s a great lens to use.

BTW, after making the list, I called some and asked them about their strengths. I asked the empath about empathy and the commander about decision-making. They were very insightful – in the context of their talent – as you might expect.

Dan, your blog post reminds me of the title of one of Keith Ferrazzi’s books: “Many Network, Few Connect.” There is such an emphasis for your professionals on networking. Those of us who have been around awhile realize that connections and relationships are really what drive fulfillment.

Thanks Lawrence. So true. I continue to learn that building and maintaining a few great relationships delivers unusual benefit for mutual advantage.

Obviously, many thin relationships are important. But a few deeper relationships bring deep value.

My exercise was useful because I know the people on the list pretty well.

“Those with the deepest commitment to personal development and growth experience more opportunity and contribution. They often overcome patterns of frustration that I see nagging others.” This stands out for me and it describes the outcomes of my personal commitment which I’ve been driven to and from for the last 40 years. How did I get that “drive”, my parents most notably my father and my Grandfathers all set the example. My challenge how do I transfer or convince the “young ins” that I engage with the idea of passionate personal development and growth and what it can result in. Most of the “young ins” I seem to deal with are waiting for someone or some urge to develop. Is it because they have not had an engaged family influence like I had?

Thanks Roger. The commitment to learn something is easier than the commitment to develop. One can learn without developing. I think this happens frequently.

It took me a long time to realize the difference. Learning has been important to me and my family for as long as I have memory. But personal development is another matter.

Learning how to do something is easier than learning how to be someone.

You’re fortunate to have examples that showed you the way. In my experience this is rare.

How does one convince the young ins to adopt your commitment. What a great question!

I wonder about…

1. Leveraging moments of frustration. 2. Pointing out the quality in people they admire and aspire to emulate. 3. Allowing failure and aiding them in the process personal growth. What does this say about you? (Providing an opportunity for non-judgement reflection seems essential) 4. Explore aspirations and ask what type of person achieves the things you aspire to achieve? How might you become that person? Should you even try?

But, in the end, they say you can’t coach passion. It’s the first thing I look for in the people I work with.

1. Leveraging moments of frustration. 2. Pointing out the quality in people they admire and aspire to emulate. 3. Allowing failure and aiding them in the process personal growth. What does this say about you? (Providing an opportunity for non-judgement reflection seems essential) 4. Explore aspirations and ask what type of person achieves the things you aspire to achieve? How might you become that person? Should you even try? But, in the end, they say you can’t coach passion. It’s the first thing I look for in the people I work with. Dan those details are what I worked on with my now 27 year old Daughter and am deep working on with my 25 year old son. I know it worked for my Daughter and it is working for my son. I am amazed that more parents do not take an active approach on this, are they just too lazy or unknowing or both?

Dan One of my oldest European business friends told me I seem to spend most of my time with people that I: Like, Respect and Trust. That combination is hard to find. Brad

Interesting that you bring this up, Brad. I would apply Like, Respect, and Trust in specific ways when I think of my friends.

I don’t respect everything about them. I don’t like everything about them. Of the three terms, trust seems most broadly applicable.

The reason I mention this is that it’s the things that irritate me about my friends that often provides the most instruction.

Dan, at 72 I find I have become far pickier about who I am friends with and who I am willing to refresh as friends. I have “friends” that range from nice to be around to ones willing to take a bullet for me and me for them. In these times, I tend to hang with the latter more than the former.

Hey Jim. I with you. A few great friends is better than a ton of thin relationships. Don’t get me wrong, we all need thin relationships. Who knows, some of them might become great friends. 🙂

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My Best Friend Essay in English | 100, 150, 200, 300, 500 Words

My Best Friend Essay in English: Best friend is one of the most beautiful gifts in life. In this article, you are going to learn how to write an essay on my best friend in English. We’ve provided 5 essays here (100, 150, 200, 300, and 500 words). All the essays will be helpful for students of classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12. So, let’s begin.

Table of Contents

My Best Friend Essay: 100 Words

I have many friends in school. But Akash is my best friend. We read in the same class and same section. He is polite and well-mannered. He is an ideal student. He is very smart and intelligent. He always obeys his parents and teachers. He wants to become an engineer. His favourite game is cricket. He is the captain of our school team.

Akash helps me to become a better person. We share our feelings, emotions, and happiness with each other. We study and play together. I want him to be successful in life. We hope our friendship will last forever.

Essay on My Best Friend: 150 Words

The world looks dark without a true Friend. I am fortunate that I have a best friend. Her name is Riya. We are friends since childhood. Riya is my class fellow. She is a soft-spoken girl. She is tall and good-looking. She is sincere and attentive in her studies. She belongs to a middle-class family.

Riya is a disciplined and obedient girl. Her hobbies are drawing, singing, and dancing. Everyone admires her because of her good behavior. Her aim in life is to be a doctor. Riya and I study and play together. We share our secrets, happiness, and sadness with each other. Whenever I face any problem, she helps me to get rid of the problem by providing the best solutions. I feel really lucky to have her as my best friend. May God give everyone a friend like Riya.

Also Read: Paragraph on My Best Friend

Essay About Best Friend: 200 Words

Man is a gregarious animal. He can not live alone. He wants to talk, love, and meet his fellow man, so he wants to have a friend. A friend is a person whom one loves, likes, talks and often meets, This brings happiness to a man’s life. A friendless man is never happy. He leads a sad life.

It is difficult to get a good friend. It is truly said that “Words are easy, like the wind; Faithful friends are hard to find.” My friend Rajesh is a faithful friend. Rajesh is my classmate and a close friend of mine. He belongs to a rich family. His father is a popular doctor. Mahesh is a simple and handsome boy. He is always smiling.

Rajesh has many qualities. He is a laborious boy. He is always serious for study. He is attentive in class and a topper in class examinations. He is practical and wears clean and neat dress. He is kind and helpful to other students. He is good at Mathematics. So, whenever I find difficulties in my Mathematics homework he helps me out. He is never proud. He takes keen interest in school activities, games, and sports. He takes an active part in debates.

Rajesh is a friend who guides me on the right path in life. I want him to be with me in every aspect of my life.

Essay on Best Friend: 300 Words

A true friend is a precious thing. Without a friend, life is dull and boring. I am really lucky to have a true friend. There are 5-6 friends of mine. But Rahul is my real friend. He is a genuine friend. Rahul is my best friend. We are made for each other.

I am proud of Rahul, and so is Rahul of me. We cannot live even for a single day without seeing each other. He has been my class fellow since my early childhood. Our friendship is natural and so everlasting. He comes from a respectable family. His mother is a religious lady and a housewife. Rahul is the only child of his parents. They love Rahul more than their own life. My parents also love him as dearly as they love me.

Rahul’s father is the Principal of a degree college. He is very learned and knowledgeable. And so, Rahul has inherited good intelligence and wisdom. He is brilliant in his studies. Science subjects are his favourite.

He helps me in these subjects. I am very good in English, and help him in this subject. There is a healthy competition between us. But are never envious of each other’s achievements.

Rahul wants to become a big and successful engineer. I want to be a lecturer. Rahul is a very good story-teller and singer. But he likes my jokes and anecdotes the best. We have a common hobby of collecting stamps. We both have a very good collection of stamps. We exchange stamps and information on the subject.

Rahul’s nature is sweet. He is very lovable. He often visits our house and in return, I also pay him visits. I am really lucky to have him as my friend. We together share our joys and sorrows. I have learnt much from him.

Also Read: My Best Friend 10 Lines in English

My Best Friend Essay: 500 Words

Introduction.

‘A man is known by the company he keeps’, Says a proverb. Hence one needs to be very careful in selecting friends. As Shakespeare has pointed out in his play ‘As You Like It’, ‘Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly’. Fair-weather friends are plenty; true and reliable friends are few and far between.

My Best Friend

I have many friends in my school , but most of them are only so-called friends. They are not dependable. Out of them, only Arvind is my true and sincere friend. He is my best friend. I am, indeed, proud of his friendship.

Arvind is the only son of a district court judge. Even then he is very humble and modest. His financial position is sound and enviable. Yet prosperity has not turned him proud and rude. He is not puffed with pride.

His Qualities

Arvind has all the fine qualities of head and heart. He is tall, healthy, and handsome. He is affectionate, kind, sociable, and extremely helpful. He is a good sportsman on the playground and an inviable scholar in the classroom.  All praise, honour, and admiration sit lightly on him. He is not swollen-headed. He is all the more modest and polite because of them.

He is a hard-working boy. He is kind and compassionate. His heart melts at the sight of poverty, sickness and human suffering of any kind. In order to serve the suffering humanity selflessly, he has decided to become a doctor and set up his medical practice in some rural Adivasi area. He often says that the selfless service of the poor is the true service of God.

Our Friendship

I am so proud that I have such an ideal friend like Arvind. Because of his company and rare friendship, my outlook, attitude, and behaviour have been positively influenced. His friendship has given a new, healthy dimension to my life and I, now, look forward to a happy and bright future.

Arvind is indeed, the architect of my life and the moulder of my destiny in the right direction. He is my friend, guide, and philosopher. I envy myself for having such an ideal friend.

Read More: 1. Wonder of Science Essay 2. My Favourite Season Essay 3. Essay on Newspaper

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• Writing Essay on Friendship: 3 Samples to Get Inspired

When in school or college, you won’t escape the task of writing an essay on friendship. It’s a paper revealing the power of having friends and reflecting on the corresponding values.

It seems easy to write. You craft a narrative about your mates, explaining what they mean to you. And yet, it’s an academic paper. So, some rules are still here on how to structure and format it.

In this article, you’ll find three samples of different essays on friendship. Feel free to use them to get inspired and better understand this paper’s nature and purpose.

Let’s answer all the questions related to friendship essays together!

What Is an Essay on Friendship?

First, the definition:

An essay on friendship is a short academic paper students write to express their thoughts and reflections on the topic.

The purpose is to:

• explore the phenomenon;
• understand what it means to you;
• realize the significance of having close people nearby;
• reveal the pros and cons of committing to a friendship;
• reflect on how friendship can help our wellness.

Friendship essays aren’t about “my friends and I” topics only. You can write about the role of friendship for mental health, craft an expository essay explaining the topic, or build a reflective essay on what friendship means to you.

Friendship Essay Structure

Friendship essays have a standard structure of academic papers. They are short and consist of three parts:

• Introduction about friendship
• Paragraph about friendship
• Friendship essay conclusion

In the intro, you start with an attention grabber. Feel free to use a quote, a surprising fact, or an anecdote. Introduce the topic and finish with thesis statements about friendship.

In a friendship paragraph, you support a thesis with facts, evidence, personal stories, etc. As a rule, essay bodies have three paragraphs minimum. So you can devote each paragraph to one aspect :

• Definition of this concept 
• Why having friends is essential
• What a friend can give you
• Types of friendship  
• Challenges mates meet on their way  
• Characteristics of a good friend  
• How to strengthen a friendship, etc. 

In the essay body, you can use stories and examples from your life to illustrate points. Tell about your friends and share personal thoughts — it will make your paper more compelling to read.

In the concluding paragraph, sum up the points and restate your thesis. Finish on a positive note, leaving readers with the food for thought.

Easier said than done, huh?

Below are three samples of friendship essays for you to see what they look like and how they sound.

3 Samples to Help You Write an Essay About Friendship

While Ralph Waldo Emerson friendship essay (1) is the top example of the paper on this topic, we’ll go further and provide several NEW samples.

Please check:

Short Essay on Friendship

This sample is perfect for high school students. As a rule, teachers ask them to write 150-200-word essays. The task is to describe concepts or things the way they understand them.

Narrative Essay on Friendship

Narrative essays are more about personal stories. Here, you can tell about your friends, include dialogues , and sound less academic.

500 Words Essay Sample on Importance of Friendship

Over to You

Now, you have three samples and know how to structure this paper. Ready to write yours?

Let’s begin with the “Why is friendship important?” essay — and you’ll see that it’s not super challenging to craft. Be honest, share your thoughts, and don’t hesitate to write personal reflections on the topic.

Still don’t know how to start your essay on friendship? Our writers are here to help. 

References:

• https://archive.vcu.edu/english/engweb/transcendentalism/authors/emerson/essays/friendship.html
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Show me your friends, and i’ll show you your future.

People often ask me what the “secret” to enduring faith is. They want to make it all the way with Jesus, but they’re afraid that something might derail them along the way. When they ask this, I know they’re expecting some spiritual advice – possibly a theological truth or a key spiritual discipline. I’m all for theological truth and spiritual disciplines. But if there is a secret ingredient to enduring faith, it’s this: Your friends are your future.

Friendship may not be the most important factor in your spiritual life. But it’s certainly one of the most overlooked. That’s why I refer to it as a secret ingredient to enduring faith.

Christians know they need to read the Bible – even if they don’t do it. They know that they should believe certain things about God. But somehow they forget that they’re social creatures, shaped by the people closest to them.

The way King Solomon put it was, “ The one who walks with the wise will become wise, but a companion of fools will suffer harm ” (Proverbs 13:20 CSB). In other words, show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future.

I can’t tell you how often people simply ignore this. They get really motivated to become something great for God, but because that decision never affects their friendships, their intentions never become reality.

One of my mentors in college told me, “For most decisions in your life, it’s not the big dreams you dream but the small decisions you make.”

There is probably no better application of that than in our friendships. Our future is shaped less by our dreams and ambitions of what we’ll do for God and more by the company we choose to keep in the present.

Now, whenever I mention this, people ask, “Pastor J.D., are you saying that we shouldn’t have non-Christian friends?” Not exactly. To answer that, I often think of friendship in three concentric circles (I’m pretty sure I got this from Andy Stanley, but I can’t remember):

In the innermost circle, intimacy, you have a small group of friends – probably just three or four – that profoundly shape you, and vice versa.

If you’re married, your spouse goes in this circle. These need to be people that share the ultimate convictions you have. These are the ones that forecast your future.

In the next circle, influence, you have a larger number of friends. You influence them, and they influence you – not as deeply as your closest friends, but still in meaningful ways. Most of these ought to be Christians.

In the outermost circle, care, you have the largest number of friends, including more casual acquaintances. These are people that you love and care for. You legitimately want the best for them and are willing to sacrifice for them, sometimes in stunning ways. But the shaping influence, in both directions, is lower. These can, and should, be Christians as well as non-Christians.

The mistake I often see isn’t that Christians have too many non-Christian friends but that people who should be in the care or influence circles are actually in the intimacy circle.

One of the most heart-breaking ways I see Christians flout this is in dating. Your spouse should be your closest and most influential friend. And yet, I so often see Christians pursuing romantic relationships with non-Christians. I want to shake them and ask, “Do you have any idea what you are doing to your future?”

You say, “Well, I think this relationship is different.”

You imagine that you really can change your boyfriend. Things just feel so right when you’re together. Plus, you know about that one couple where it actually worked out: He became a Christian, they got married, and everybody lived happily ever after. And yes, God’s grace is amazing. I have seen him dramatically change people you’d never expect.

If you are currently married to a non-Christian, obey Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 7, stay true to your spouse, and pray like crazy for God to move. But why would you jump into that situation on purpose?

Do you know what it’s called when you willfully break God’s rules and then look to him to fix everything? It’s called mocking. And God will not be mocked.

Besides, is this really a gamble you want to take? Now that I’m a father, I realize that the single most important person in the lives of my children is my wife.

If you’re dating a non-Christian, you’re implicitly saying that you don’t really care about the salvation of your future kids. Don’t gamble with your kids’ eternity for the sake of a romantic thrill that won’t last anyway.

Sermons might inspire you, but it’s your community that shapes you. So in your friendships – your marriage chief among them – choose with wisdom. Your future will thank you.

(EDITOR’S NOTE – J. D. Greear is the pastor of The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, N.C. This article was first published at JDGreear.com/blog . Used by permission.)

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Friendship Essay: Writing Guide, Outline With Examples

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A friendship essay is precisely what it sounds like: a paper that students write to describe their relationships with their mates.  It is among the many assignments that students are given in their college institutions.  Writing essays about friendship is a great way to analyze what the connection means to you and reflect on some of your encounters. It can also be used as a tool to improve your closeness and affection. This blog post offers tips you may consider while writing your paper and its outline. It features friendship essay examples that help generate ideas that form the primary focus of your paper.  If you are not ready to waste your time on essay writing, StudyCrumb is here to offer affordable prices and professional writers.

What Is a Friendship Essay?

The definition of friendship essay is quite clear and straightforward. A paper about friends can be described as a write-up on a relationship between two or more people. This interpretation makes it easier to obtain the meaning of friendship essay.  Writing such thematic essay will help you communicate your feelings as well as your thoughts. It allows you to recollect your memories about different encounters you have had in life. It will also help you evaluate qualities of your connection.  While writing, you may have a sequence of events starting from your meet-up, activities you have done together, and how you have sustained the connection. Preparing an essay about friendship can evoke memories from your past that may have been long forgotten.

Purpose of an Essay on Friendship

This kind of essay aims to help you explore its nature and form, its pros and cons, and its role in your life. The importance of friendship essay is that it acts as a reflective tool. It helps you realize the significance of creating and maintaining good relationships with friends. It also explains how these connections contribute to your overall wellness. In addition, an article about friendship may teach you to understand that true friendship is priceless and should stand the test of time.

Ideas to Write a Friendship Essay on

Writing essays about friendship is a more manageable task than drafting a paper about a topic that may require more detailed research. Any excellent essay about true friendship starts with an idea that you can examine.  Below are some unique ideas you can explore:

• What is friendship?
• What does friendship mean to me?
• The value of friendship you cherish in your life.
• Cross-cultural friendships.
• The role of friendship in mental health maintenance.

As you reflect on your relationship with your friend, see if you can write a paper incorporating these themes. Remember to choose an idea that interests you and is relevant to your personal experiences or research. Be sure to support your arguments with evidence and examples from real-life situations, literature, or academic research. Look through our definition essay topics or persuasive essay ideas to find a theme that suits your task best.

Friendship Essay Outline

An essay outline about friendship is a summary of what your write-up will contain but in a less detailed format. You use it to organize and structure your content logically and effectively. It presents the main topics and subtopics hierarchically, allowing writers to see the connection between different parts of the material. The importance of an outline lies in its ability to help writers plan, organize, as well as clarify their ideas. This makes the writing of an essay about friends more efficient, and the final product is more coherent and effective. Here is an example of an outline for a friendship essay.

• Briefly introduce the topic of friendship
• Provide a thesis statement that summarizes the main points of the essay
• Topic sentence
• Your main argument
• Real-life examples that support your key idea
• Supporting evidence
• 3rd Body Paragraph
• Examples or recommendations
• Summarize the main points
• Provide some food for thought

Note that this is a general outline. The exact structure and content of your essay will depend on the specific requirements of your assignment and your personal interests.

Structure of a Friendship Essay

The structure of an essay on friendship typically includes the following three parts.

• Introduction An introduction should grab the reader's attention and provide background information. It should also include a clear thesis statement that sets a path and direction of the friendship essays.
• Body The essay's body is where you will provide evidence and details to underpin your thesis statement. It should consist of several paragraphs supporting and developing a statement of purpose. Each paragraph should focus on a specific aspect of your friendliness, such as its importance, benefits, or challenges.
• Conclusion Briefly summarize the essay's main points and reinforce your principal argument. The conclusion should leave a lasting impression on readers and emphasize your topic's significance. Overall, the structure should be clear and well-organized, allowing the audience to follow your argument and understand the topic's significance.

Friendship Essay Introduction

A good introduction about friendship essay should grab the reader's attention and encourage them to continue reading. This can be achieved through a " hook ," a quote, an interesting fact, or a thought-provoking question. Background information can then be provided to give context to the discussed topic.  The introduction to an essay about friendship should also clearly state your main point or argument of the piece, known as thesis statement. This sets pace for the rest of the paper and gives readers a clear view of what to expect. A friendship essay introduction should be concise, engaging, and provide context for the audience to understand the content fully.

Read more: How to Start off an Essay

Friendship Essay Introduction Example

Here is an example of a friendship essay introduction that sets the stage for a reflective and thought-provoking exploration of the most precious gift in life.

Friendship is a special bond that unites two individuals with common interests, experiences, and emotions. It makes life easier and contributes to our happiness. It is a relationship that transcends race, religion, and socio-economic status and has power to sustain and uplift the spirit of humans. In this essay, I will explore its benefits and how it can contribute to a better world. Through personal anecdotes, I will illustrate the bond's depth and role in our day-to-day lives.

Friendship Essay Thesis Statement

The friendship thesis statement aims to provide a summary of the essay's main point. It can be one or two sentences which you develop as you research. The statement of purpose should focus on the central argument and be supported by evidence presented in the body. The thesis statement about friendship should guide the essay's structure. Its main objective is to provide your reader with a roadmap to follow. It should be specific, concise, and accurately reflect the content in your paper. Understanding what constitutes a strong thesis is crucial for writers as it is integral to every essay writing process.

Friendship Thesis Statement Example

The thesis statement must be clear to readers so that they may quickly recognize it and comprehend the paper's significance. It should act as a blueprint of what to expect. A friendship thesis statement sample could be:

In this essay, I will explore friendship's meaning, its importance, benefits, drawbacks, and how it can contribute to a better world. Through a series of personal anecdotes, I will illustrate the bond's depth and its key role in our lives.

Friendship Essay Body

The body part should include five or more paragraphs. Students will use body paragraphs to elaborate on the key factors that make their connection special.

• Definition and explanation. This friendship body paragraph should start with a definition and a brief explanation of its characteristics and qualities.
• Importance of friends. Discuss why it is vital in your life and how it contributes to personal growth and welfare.
• Types of friendships. A paragraph about friendship should discuss different types of friend's relationships that exist.
• Qualities of a good friend. Discuss standards a great confidant should possess.
• Challenges. Discuss the common problems that friends face.
• Ways to strengthen friendship. Provide tips on reinforcing and maintaining good relationships.
• Conclusion. Sum up the key points made in your essay and reiterate the importance of genuine bonds in life.

Friendship Body Paragraph Example

Below is a friendship body paragraph sample.

How to Spend Free Time with Friends • Outdoor Activities. Spending time in nature is a great way to bond with friends. You can meet, then go for a hike, take a walk, or go to a picnic in a park. This allows you to connect and enjoy the beautiful world around you. • Movie Night. Watching a movie is another fun activity you can do with friends. You can share popcorn, grab snacks, and enjoy a movie together. This is a great way to relax and unwind. • Board Games. Playing board games with friends is a fun and interactive way to spend free time. You can play classic games like Monopoly. This is a great way to challenge each other and have a good time.

Friendship Essay Conclusion

Any conclusion on a friendship essay should sum up the main ideas discussed in your essay and restate the thesis statement. It should leave a lasting impression and provide a closure to your topic. To start writing a conclusion about a friendship essay, commence by rephrasing the thesis statement in different words. Summarize the points discussed in your essay by connecting them back to your statement of purpose. End conclusion with a final thought or call to action that leaves a lasting impression on your reader.  It is vital to keep it concise yet impactful. Avoid introducing new information or arguments, as it can confuse readers. Instead, focus on tying up loose ends and emphasizing main ideas discussed in your essay.

Read more: How to Conclude an Essay

Friendship Essay Conclusion Sample

Here is an example of a friendship essay conclusion:

In conclusion, friendship is an essential aspect of our lives that brings joy, support, and companionship. It is a relationship built on mutual trust, understanding, and love. A true friend will always be there for you, no matter what. As humans, we need sincere friends to help us navigate life's ups and downs and provide emotional support. An understanding friend can withstand any obstacle and bring happiness to our lives. The connection is meant to last a lifetime, whether through shared experiences, interests, or simply a common bond. Ultimately, having a close group of loyal friends who truly care for us is one of the greatest gifts we can receive in life.

How to Write an Essay on Friendship?

To write an essay about friendship, start by brainstorming ideas about what friends mean to you and the benefits of such kinds of relationships. Knowing how to write a good essay about friendship involves selecting a great topic and arranging your content in a manner that has logical flow.

1. Come Up With a Topic About Friendship

To brainstorm essay topics on friendship, consider the following.

• Reflect on your own experiences. Think about your own bonds and encounters you have had with allies. Avoid bad occurrences. This can inspire topics to explore in your essay. To find a subject that interests you, you can also look through internet examples of friend essays.
• Ask questions related to friends, such as "What makes a meaningful connection?" or "How does the quality of your bond change over time?"
• Talk to others. Ask friends, family, or classmates about their experiences. They may have interesting insights that can inspire new topics for your essay.

Ensure that topic you select is appropriate for your report style. For example: 

The Day my Best Friend Changed My Life.

You can start this topic by how you met, narrate your story, and then pick out some attributes of a good friend and the advantages of the relationship. Remember to choose a topic on friendship essay that you feel passionate about and can explore in depth in your essay.

2. Do Research

To research and collect information for the friend essay, follow these steps.

• Start with a general search. Use search engines like Google to find articles, books, and other resources on affection.
• Identify keywords. Determine the most relevant keywords for your essay, such as "essay about a friend." Use them in your search to narrow down results to the most pertinent information.
• Evaluate sources. When you have a list of potential sources, evaluate each to determine their credibility and relevance. Look for sources that are written by experts in the field and that have been peer-reviewed or published in reputable journals.
• Take notes. As you read, take notes on the most important and relevant information.

3. Develop a Friendship Essay Outline

An outline is a useful tool for organizing ideas in an essay and it ensures that your essay has a structure. Before outlining you need to have a clear vision of what your essay will focus on. Then analyze every piece of information that you have and categorize it into headings. An outline of an essay about friendships will comprise a list which consists of each paragraph’s topic sentence . By going through the outline, you are able to examine what purpose each paragraph serves. If you need assistance on how to create an outline for a college essay about friendship use the outline example shown below.

4. Write an Essay on Friendship

Writing an essay about friendship is an exciting task. Below is a sample of how you can write your friendship essay. Friendship is the bond between two or more individuals based on mutual trust, support, and understanding. This connection can develop at any stage of life and even last a lifetime. It is a bond that fills our lives with comfort, laughter, and advice during a hard period. Many different factors can contribute to its formation and success. Having similar needs, mutual interests, and social activities can help sustain the relationship. Another crucial aspect is being ready to support each other through happy and difficult times unconditionally. Trust is also an essential component in the longevity of this connection. In conclusion, friendship is an invaluable treasure that brings joy, comfort, and support to our lives. It provides a safe place in a world that can be harsh and unforgiving. It reminds us that we should always stay true to each other.

5. Proofread Your Friendship Essay

When writing a friendship essay, consider the following for an effective introduction.

• Grab your reader's attention. A good introduction makes them want to continue reading your friendship essay.
• Provide context. Give an overview of the friendship essay and its purpose. This will make readers interested in your work.
• Establish your purpose. Clearly state the main idea or thesis.
• Preview the main points. Briefly summarize key points that will be covered.
• Be concise. An introduction should be short and on point, generally no more than one or two paragraphs.

Remember, your introduction will set tone for the rest of your piece and should encourage your readers to continue reading.

Read more: Essay About Happiness : Tips & Examples

Friendship Essay Examples

A sample essay about friendship can be critical to students, especially when they are researching and collecting information. Free friendship essays help you get ideas on how to write and structure your essay. Below are essay examples about friendship that you can go through to help with your writing and draw inspiration from. Friendship essay example 1

Friendship essay example 2

Essay about friendship sample 3

Example of essay on friendship 4

Friendship Essay Writing Tips

Here are some extra tips you need to know that will motivate you to write a friendship short essay.

• You could start with a quote, an anecdote, or a surprising fact.
• Use examples from your own life to illustrate your points in your school college essay about friendship, as this will make your essay more relatable and interesting to read.
• Friendship titles for essays should be clear and straightforward. They should also reflect your main points.
• Describe the aspect of the bond that, in your opinion, is most crucial. It is possible to personalize something that means an entirely different thing to various individuals.

Bottom Line on Friendship Essay Writing

Your central task is to understand what is a friendship essay even before you start writing. Friendship essays explore the nature of our relationships and their various aspects. They can take various forms, from short reflective essays to longer, more analytical pieces. These papers can discuss qualities that make a good friend, the benefits of your relationship, or challenges of maintaining close relationships. Examples of short essays about friendship could be a personal reflection, exploring the unique bond between the writer and their friend and what they hope to continue gaining from each other when they cross paths in future. If you struggle with other papers, feel free to check out our writing guides. From an essay about bullying to a world peace essay , we’ve got you covered.

FAQ About Friendship Essay

1. may i use friendship quotes for the essay.

Yes, it is always a winning step. You can write an essay on friendship with quotes either as the title of your essay or as an introductory phrase. You can also include it in the body of your work while narrating your story.

2. How to write a hook for an essay of friendship?

An essay should hook your reader's attention and make them want to read your story. When writing essays about friendship, you can describe a unique situation in which your friends helped you. You can also end your introduction with a catchy quote, such as Squad goals! Some other quotes that you can use include:

• A road to a friend's house is never long.
• Count your age with friends and years.
• True friend is seen through the heart, not through the eyes.

3. Explain the importance of friendship essay.

The importance of friendship essay is that it teaches students to express their thoughts and feelings about confidants and benefits they obtain from this connection. It also acts as a reflective tool. Friend essays also help students realize advantages of creating and maintaining good relationships with friends and how these linkages contribute to your overall wellness and welfare.

Daniel Howard is an Essay Writing guru. He helps students create essays that will strike a chord with the readers.

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Essays About Friendships: Top 6 Examples and 8 Prompts

Friendships are one of life’s greatest gifts. To write a friendship essay, make this guide your best friend with its essays about friendships plus prompts.

Every lasting relationship starts with a profound friendship. The foundations that keep meaningful friendships intact are mutual respect, love, laughter, and great conversations. Our most important friendships can support us in our most trying times. They can also influence our life for the better or, the worse, depending on the kind of friends we choose to keep. 

As such, at an early age, we are encouraged to choose friends who can promote a healthy, happy and productive life. However, preserving our treasured friendships is a lifelong process that requires investments in time and effort.

6 Informative Essay Examples

1. the limits of friendships by maria konnikova, 2. friendship by ralph waldo emerson, 3. don’t confuse friendships and business relationships by jerry acuff, 4. a 40-year friendship forged by the challenges of busing by thomas maffai, 5. how people with autism forge friendships by lydia denworth, 6.  friendships are facing new challenges thanks to the crazy cost of living by habiba katsha , 1. the importance of friendship in early childhood development, 2. what makes a healthy friendship, 3. friendships that turn into romance, 4. long-distance friendship with social media, 5. dealing with a toxic friendship, 6. friendship in the workplace, 7. greatest friendships in literature, 8. friendships according to aristotle .

…”[W]ithout investing the face-to-face time, we lack deeper connections to them, and the time we invest in superficial relationships comes at the expense of more profound ones.”

Social media is challenging the Dunbar number, proving that our number of casual friends runs to an average of 150. But as we expand our social base through social media, experts raise concerns about its effect on our social skills, which effectively develop through physical interaction.

“Friendship requires that rare mean betwixt likeness and unlikeness, that piques each with the presence of power and of consent in the other party.”

The influential American essayist Emerson unravels the mysteries behind the divine affinity that binds a friendship while laying down the rules and requirements needed to preserve the fellowship. To Emerson, friendship should allow a certain balance between agreement and disagreement. You might also be interested in these articles about best friends .

“Being friendly in business is necessary but friendships in business aren’t. That’s an important concept. We can have a valuable business relationship without friendship. Unfortunately, many mistakenly believe that the first step to building a business relationship is to develop a friendship.”

This essay differentiates friends from business partners. Using an anecdote, the essay warns against investing too much emotion and time in building friendships with business partners or customers, as such an approach may be futile in increasing sales.

“As racial tensions mounted around them, Drummer and Linehan developed a close connection—one that bridged their own racial differences and has endured more than four decades of evolving racial dynamics within Boston’s schools. Their friendship als­o served as a public symbol of racial solidarity at a time when their students desperately needed one.”

At a time when racial discrimination is at its highest, the author highlights a friendship they built and strengthened at the height of tensions during racial desegregation. This friendship proves that powerful interracial friendships can still be forged and separate from the politics of race.

“…15-year-old Massina Commesso worries a lot about friendship and feeling included. For much of her childhood, Massina had a neurotypical best friend… But as they entered high school, the other friend pulled away, apparently out of embarrassment over some of Massina’s behavior.”

Research debunks the myth that people with autism naturally detest interaction — evidence suggests the opposite. Now, research is shedding more light on the unique social skills of people with autism, enabling society to find ways to help them find true friendships. 

“The cost of living crisis is affecting nearly everyone, with petrol, food and electricity prices all rising. So understandably, it’s having an impact on our friendships too.”

People are now more reluctant to dine out with friends due to the rapidly rising living costs. Friendships are being tested as friends need to adjust to these new financial realities and be more creative in cultivating friendships through lower-cost get-togethers.

8 Topic Prompts on Essays About Friendships

More than giving a sense of belonging, friendships help children learn to share and resolve conflicts. First, find existing research linking the capability to make and keep friends to one’s social, intellectual, and emotional development. 

Then, write down what schools and households can do to reinforce children’s people skills. Here, you can also tackle how they can help children with learning, communication, or behavioral difficulties build friendships, given how their conditions interfere with their capabilities and interactions. 

As with plants, healthy friendships thrive on fertile soil. In this essay, list the qualities that make “fertile soil” and explain how these can grow the seeds of healthy friendships. Some examples include mutual respect and the setting of boundaries. 

Then, write down how you should water and tend to your dearest friendships to ensure that it thrives in your garden of life. You can also discuss your healthy friendships and detail how these have unlocked the best version of yourself. 

Marrying your best friend is a romance story that makes everyone fall in love. However, opening up about your feelings for your best friend is risky. For this prompt, collate stories of people who boldly made the first step in taking their friendship to a new level.

Hold interviews to gather data and ask them the biggest lesson they learned and what they can share to help others struggling with their emotions for their best friend. Also, don’t forget to cite relevant data, such as this study that shows several romantic relationships started as friendships. 

It’s challenging to sustain a long-distance friendship. But many believe that social media has narrowed that distance through an online connection. In your essay, explain the benefits social media has offered in reinforcing long-distance friendships. 

Determine if these virtual connections suffice to keep the depth of friendships. Make sure to use studies to support your argument. You can also cite studies with contrasting findings to give readers a holistic view of the situation.

It could be heartbreaking to feel that your friend is gradually becoming a foe. In this essay, help your readers through this complicated situation with their frenemies by pointing out red flags that signal the need to sever ties with a friend. Help them assess when they should try saving the friendship and when they should walk away. Add a trivial touch to your essay by briefly explaining the origins of the term “frenemies” and what events reinforced its use. 

We all know that there is inevitable competition in the workplace. Added to this are the tensions between managers and employees. So can genuine friendships thrive in a workplace? To answer this, turn to the wealth of experience and insights of long-time managers and human resource experts. 

First, describe the benefits of fostering friendships in the workplace, such as a deeper connection in working toward shared goals, as well as the impediments, such as inherent competition among colleagues. Then, dig for case studies that prove or disprove the relevance and possibility of having real friends at work.

Whether it be the destructive duo like Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, or the hardworking pair of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson, focus on a literary friendship that you believe is the ultimate model of friendship goals. 

Narrate how the characters met and the progression of their interactions toward becoming a friendship. Then, describe the nature of the friendship and what factors keep it together. 

In Book VIII of his Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle writes about three kinds of friendships: pleasure, utility, and virtue. Dive deeper into the Greek philosopher’s mind and attempt to differentiate his three types of friendships. 

Point out ideas he articulated most accurately about friendship and parts you disagree with. For one, Aristotle refutes the concept that friendships are necessarily built on likeness alone, hence his classification of friendships. Do you share his sentiments? 

Read our Grammarly review before you submit your essay to make sure it is error-free! Tip: If writing an essay sounds like a lot of work, simplify it. Write a simple 5 paragraph essay instead.