Movies and TV shows would have you believe that friendships just fall into place effortlessly, without much conflict. In real life, though, friendship takes a lot of work and can be complicated sometimes! By building a strong foundation for your friendship and working to reduce conflict, maintaining your relationships with friends will become a whole lot easier. [ Edit ] Steps [ Edit ] Be positive. Focusing on the upside makes you a better friend. Complaints, drama, or regular talks about hopeless-sounding situations can wear your friends thin after a while. If you’re someone who likes discussing emotional subjects, that’s okay, but remember to strike a balance and talk about more cheerful or lighthearted topics, too. Discussing something as simple as books or video games, or sharing funny or uplifting stories, is better for your friendships (and everyone’s moods). [1] For example, if you're wrapping up a discussion about a bleak news article, change subjects with somethin...