Wellbeing Wednesday: We all need somebody to lean on

Today I want to stress to you that you are NEVER bothering a friend if you are down and need a friend to lean on. We all have those days. You would never turn away a sad friend, so why do you think they wouldn’t care about your problems?

This week I had a few down days. I reached out to a couple of girlfriends who have loved me unconditionally and challenged my thinking where required. They really uplifted my spirits. Talking to them about how I was feeling was probably one of the most liberating things I’ve done this week. In fact, whenever I am upset, I always feel better once I’ve talked with someone about it.

It’s simple but so good to be reminded that we are made like our creator, full of love with the purpose of relating to one another. Hence why the idea of turning away a sad friend is baffling to us! We would never want to do such a thing. Thinking about the value of friendship in difficult times reminded me of this song:

**Thanks to my dear friends Kate and Mike for allowing me to use their photos for this blog post. Photos by Ginger Photography**

Tips to take from this awesome song:

1. Lean on me

‘We all need somebody to lean on‘. When it’s hard to balance and stay upright in life, call a friend who you can lean on. One you can laugh with, even when you’re standing somewhere risky.

2. Swallow your pride

Take that leap of faith, ask for what you need. Whether that’s a shoulder to cry on, to borrow something you can’t afford, or just asking someone to get you out of the house. It can be a scary leap, but it’s worth it. Remember two things: 1. You would want to help them, so it isn’t logical to assume they won’t want to help you. 2. You’ll be in no worse position than before you ask for help, even on the very rare occurrence that someone says they can’t help.

3. Share the load

Remind your friend or neighbour that ‘you’re right up the road’ and you’ll ‘share the load.’ It can be much easier for someone to reach out if they are reminded that they can. It’s important to make sure the people in our lives know our love for them – no matter what!

4. There is always tomorrow

It’s amazing what a good sleep will do. I am so thankful for night and day. If you have the luxury, sometimes it is worth starting things again with a new day, particularly if you are feeling overwhelmed.

Friends, remind each other of the bigger picture. Offer perspective to one another. It is important though, to do this after your friend has conveyed all they want to say and had a cry if needed. No one usually wants a solution straight away and sometimes, it can be more frustrating than receiving no answer at all if a solution is offered at the wrong time. Empathy for their immediate needs and feelings is key. Although, once things have calmed a little, ask will this matter in a week, a year, 5 years, 10 years from now? Most likely not. Did the last time you felt like this leave you with 5 years of problems? Most likely not.

We have friends for a reason, to help us through the difficulties of life. Don’t ignore this wonderful blessing and make sure your friends know you love them.

CHALLENGE: Uplift a friend by sharing this post to your Facebook wall and tag a few friends to remind them of the truths in this song!