Sometimes you need more. Sometimes they need more.
But the point is that it should be mutual. A two way street!!
When it's one sided, it gets very draining. If the person is always dominating the conversation, or if they are always turning it back onto themselves, then it's one-sided. When the "friend" is constantly talking about themselves and rarely asks about you, then it's one-sided.
The thing is a person has many sides! There's so much depth and emotion and personality to people! Why only focus on yourself in a friendship??
How do you truly get to know someone? Ask them questions. And then listen to the answers. Ask related questions to their answers. Dig deeper. Truly listen. Don't just think about what you will say or a great story you have related to what they are saying. Listen to their words and listen to the emotion behind their words.
One sided friendships are tedious. They drain the life out of the other person. People want to be filled up and poured into. People want 2 way relationships.
I try to be conscious of how I interact with people. Am I interested in them? Have I asked about their day? How can I be of help to them?
And then when I need help, I can ask others. When I need a word of encouragement, I can ask.
One way streets are often dead ends.
I want to be in friendships that give and take. Ones that help, encourage and go 2 ways.
So how are your friendships? Do you take too much? Do you give back? Are you too giving and never ask anything in return? These are the questions we need to ask ourselves.
God made us to need each other. And that's a good thing.
