We have all been in the position where our friend makes a choice that we don’t agree with. However, it’s how we choose to handle ourselves in that situation that makes all of the difference.
Sometimes it’s hard to tell our friends that we don’t think she is making the best decision, but it is so important to be honest with them without sounding like you’re the all-knowing friend, because let’s face it, you’re not. You don’t always know what’s right and what’s wrong, no-one does. And when you’re in a situation standing from the outside looking in, it is so much easier to see what the right choice actually is compared to actually being in the situation yourself.
As a good friend, it’s your job to try your best to put yourself in your friend's shoes and think about where they are coming from. No matter what you say, how much advice you give, how opinionated you are, and how much experience you may have, your friend is going to make her own decision, and in the end, you have to respect that. You might completely disagree, think she’s incredibly crazy, and maybe even sometimes resent her for it, but she’s your friend and she gets to make her own choices in her life. You aren’t her mom, you’re her friend and you have to realize where to draw that line.
No one wants to hear “I told you.” Yes, you might have been right all along, yes she should’ve listened to you, but what kind of person are you when she comes to you upset and brokenhearted and all that you tell her is “You should’ve listened to me”? That’s not going to help her at all, no matter how true it might be. She needs you to comfort her, and tell her everything will work itself, not that you were right all along.
Being a good friend means being honest, even when it’s hard to be. But, it also means being genuine in your honesty. You’re being honest for her own good, and because you want what is best for her, not because you just want and love to be right.
It’s important to remember to always have your friend’s best interest at heart, and be kind in the way you say things, because they impact her more than you think. Be someone who wants what’s best for her friend, and wants her to be genuinely happy.
