Friendship, self motivation articles and advice

The true interpretation of friendship is often lost in the emotions of life. Nothing encapsulates the meaning of the word better than the words of R.W.Emerson: " The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when you discover that someone else believes in you and is willing to trust you". Friendship begins and ends with sharing of trust and a common ideal.

True friendship means never having to say you are sorry. Your friend knows intuitively that you will always act in good faith. You never blame each other when things go wrong; you have both tried your best in the common interest. You never forget each other and the bond of true friendship is even stronger than family. Not that family occupies a lesser level of trust but this friendship occupies a different level of trust.

I recall my own experiences in business relationships with entrepreneurial business startups in both Australia and America. Both enterprises required complete trust in my partners, as I was not personally involved in the ventures. When we experienced problems, twice in the Australian ventures and when the American venture crashed, I never ever lost faith and trust in my partners in those ventures. I chose them as friends, based not on how much money they had contributed to the venture, or how much I needed their expertise and support in the ventures but on their virtue, their ethics and their value as human beings. Even now, many years later, I look back with nothing but affection and respect for two good people. Our lives and those of our families were disrupted and we lost so much together but I never lost my respect and my love for them as people. Like the warrior on the battlefield, our bond was strengthened by the problems and losses we faced together. I miss them now but keep in touch. If we only meet again twenty years from now it will be like yesterday!

So, find a life in which you are not alone. Find a friend you can trust and who trusts you and be generous. Remember that trust must be continually confirmed and never taken for granted. It must not be measured by how much love and trust you receive in return but is unconditional. It is like true charity. When you start to measure it, you commercialize it and you prostitute the principle. The goodness of friendship and trust must be so powerful that you want to give more than you receive. And you can never give enough. For then you will receive even more in return. Friendship means understanding your friends even if you do not agree with them. Fulfillment is the acceptance of their opinions without in any way compromising your own views.

The friends made in early life during the teenager years are special friends and you never make quite the same friendships again ever. Friendships that come later are different friendships but are not lesser friendships. If you are struggling with emotional and financial insecurity and face major lifestyle and business decisions, the value of the love, support and advice of a friend can be a lifeline of hope. Innovators and entrepreneurial thinkers are more likely to be loners that might lack an adequate foundation of closer friends for support. Friends also provide a network across the spectrum of people in all walks of life that provide knowledge, experience and attributes that can support and enrich our lives.

A baby needs the love and friendship of the mother to grow normally. The teenager needs the friendship, support and advice of a friend to reinforce their insecurity as they start out on the adventure of life. The businessman needs the friendship and trust of his staff to succeed in business. The aged need friends to make the sunset of their lives friendly and fulfilling.

I have created the site "myselfmotivation.com" in the hope that in sharing my own life experiences, I can walk though life with you, holding your hand and show you that you have a friend and I am listening.