How to Build Healthy Friendships:
Choosing the Right People to Grow With
Friendships have the power to shape our lives, influence our decisions, and determine the quality of our growth. But not all friendships are created equal. If you want to thrive personally, emotionally, and spiritually, you need the right people in your corner. Here’s how to choose close friends who will challenge, support, and strengthen you.
1. Choose Friends Who Challenge You Mentally
Proverbs 13:20 (NIV) – He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
Proverbs 27:17 (NIV) – As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
Your best friends should be truth-tellers—people who push you to think deeper, grow stronger, and become better. They aren’t afraid to call out your blind spots, challenge your thinking, or recommend books and ideas that stretch your perspective.
✅ Ask yourself: Do I have friends who encourage growth, or do I surround myself with people who keep me comfortable?
💡 Pro Tip: Give your closest friends permission to be brutally honest with you—you’ll be better for it.
2. Choose Friends Who Support You Emotionally
Proverbs 17:17 (NIV) – A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Galatians 6:2 (NIV) – Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Life throws challenges our way, and the right friends don’t just celebrate our highs—they walk with us through the lows. A strong friendship means having people who will check in on you, hold you accountable, and make sure you’re not struggling alone.
✅ Ask yourself: Do I let my friends support me emotionally, or do I push them away and pretend I don’t need help?
💡 Pro Tip: If a friend reaches out to help, don’t brush it off. Let them in—true friendship is built on trust and vulnerability.
3. Choose Friends Who Strengthen You Spiritually
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV) – Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Hebrews 10:24 (NIV) – And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
Spiritual growth isn’t meant to be done alone. The strongest friendships challenge you to stay connected to your faith, live with purpose, and keep your heart aligned with God. Surround yourself with people who encourage you to be spiritually disciplined, hold you accountable, and help you grow in your walk with Christ.
✅ Ask yourself: Do my friends inspire my spiritual growth, or do they distract me from it?
💡 Pro Tip: Find friends who not only talk about faith but live it out daily—it will make all the difference in your journey.
The Right Friends Will Push You Forward, Not Hold You Back
If you want to level up in life, relationships, and faith, the people you surround yourself with matter more than you think. It’s time to take inventory:
- Are your friends challenging you mentally?
- Are they supporting you emotionally?
- Are they strengthening you spiritually?
If you feel stuck in unhealthy relationships or struggle to find the right people, coaching can help. Sometimes, all it takes is a shift in mindset and a few key strategies to start building the friendships you truly need.
📅 Let’s connect! Schedule a free consultation today to learn how life coaching can help you cultivate meaningful, growth-oriented relationships.
📞 Call/Text: (231) 499-9069
📧 Email: [email protected]
Series Links
Click the link below to navigate to another post in this series:
- Improving Relationships Part 1: https://wp.me/pajKXW-gI
- Improving Relationships Part 2: https://wp.me/pajKXW-gL
- Improving Relationships Part 3: https://wp.me/pajKXW-gN
- Improving Relationships Part 4: https://wp.me/pajKXW-gR
