How Do I Recognize False Friendships?

If it is not a true friendship, some people try to take advantage of you or benefit from you, but disappear as soon as you need something from them yourself.

We talk to a wide variety of people every day and socialize, some of them become true friends we can always count on, but others just take advantage of our friendship. But how do I recognize  false friendships?

It is not always easy to realize that we are being taken advantage of by someone we trust. But there are different circumstances and circumstances in a relationship that make it clear whether or not it is a  false friendship . 

False friendships out of selfishness

You can recognize false friendships by the fact that the person only shows up when they want or need something from you.

It can be very simple, like borrowing a book, or serious favors, like borrowing money.

Helping friends is a sign of affection and compassion, of course,  but if they take advantage of the situation and push the boundaries, you should break that friendship.

You are being excluded

As you introduce your friends to each other and organize activities together, over time you can become excluded. Your friendships now arrange to meet alone and no longer invite you. 

It is important to be objective in such situations because sometimes feelings like jealousy arise for no real reason. It is therefore advisable to analyze the situation carefully before you distance yourself from these people.

Information for your own benefit

Some false friendships are only for obtaining information for their own benefit. This is often not obvious at first, but over time you will become aware of it.

Be careful, because someone may use your friendship to gain job benefits or to ask for favors. 

Constantly negative answers

An honest and true friendship has no interests, even if we sometimes need something from our friends.

You need friends who can listen or who can help if necessary, that’s completely normal. But false friendships always reject everything and have no genuine interest in being by your side even in complicated situations.

But they themselves always need help and assume that you are always ready to do them a favor. They are only concerned about their own gain, but disappear when it is their turn.

In the course of your life you will repeatedly come across false friendships that  just want to take advantage of you. Therefore, focus on honest friends for whom friendship with you is important.

Photo courtesy of wrangler

This article was originally published in La Mente es Maravillosa  released.