How to End a Friendship

There are some friendships that endure and stay the test of time. They change, evolve, and grow deeper and stronger. Others? Not so much. It’s always sad and shocking when a friendship ends, but it does happen. There may even be a time where you feel you want to end a friendship that has turned toxic. What should you do? Here are a few tips.

Breakup by Silence
Some people choose to end a friendship by simply pulling away from someone. If the two of you have been naturally pulling away from each other anyways, this could be a viable option. After all, it saves the awkward conversation of saying goodbye.

However, if the two of you weren’t drifting apart, then pulling away might be impossible. You can’t just remain silent with someone you see often or who calls you frequently.

Focus on the Reason
When ending a friendship, it’s important to focus on the reason you are ending the relationship rather than the person. For example, if your friend has not been supportive of you lately, tell her you need to take some time to focus on yourself and X, with “X” being the issue she hasn’t been supportive of. A typical conversation may go something like this, “Lately I feel as if you haven’t been sensitive to my health problems. This is a big issue for me, and I need to focus on getting better. I’d prefer to take some time to myself right now.”

End on a Positive Note
Even if your friendship is strained, end the conversation in a healthy way. Say that you sincerely hope that the two of you can be friends again. Unlike a romantic breakup, it is very possible to be friends with someone again. After all, if the two of you grew apart, things could change that would bring you back together again. But don’t stop the rest of your life. In order for you to come together, you might need to be apart for a while.

Image: sxc.hu.