Why is Friendship Important Before a Relationship?*

Friendship refers to the close relationship between two people who do not depend on each other for making decisions, while a relationship is a way in which two people are connected. While friendships do not take a long time to develop, relationships can take quite a while. Intimacy is an emotional connection you feel with someone, and it makes the difference between a friend and an acquaintance. You should note that love and affection share this intimacy. Friendship is the first thing you need, and it is very important when it comes to developing a relationship for the following reasons.

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Getting to Know the Other Person
A relationship is an emotionally involved affair that needs time to develop; thus, creating a friendship that enables you to understand the other person on a much deeper level is very important. Interact and engage with the other person at a superficial level to be able to tell if you can trust without boundaries, thereby establishing a relationship. Find out their likes and dislikes as well as other things you wouldn’t have known beforehand.

Lowering Your Expectations
After you develop a genuine friendship where there are no expectations, you will see no need to exert much pressure on your partner. It enables you to be yourself, and you can learn everything about each other. A friendship bond is much better than letting attraction get the better of you, only to realize later that you can’t even be good friends.

Free to Date Other People
Being friends allows you to date other people without feeling guilty because there are no strings attached. You are neither tied to nor obligated nor do you owe an explanation to the other person for your actions. Friendship allows the initial infatuation to wear off as you get to know the real person for whom they are. This is an excellent foundation for having a strong relationship later.

Emotional Safeguard
A relationship is a strongly emotional affair where both parties pour out their deeper affections to each other; if ever broken, your whole life might come crashing down. Being friends first provides you with a safeguard against getting deeply emotionally involved before understanding the other person well. Platonic friendship better illustrates the essence of friendship vis-à-vis relationships.

Ability to Decide Direction
You should be friends first to the other party so you can decide what you want at the end of it all, instead of rushing into a relationship and later realizing you prefer the other person as only a friend. In some cases, you will find that the person is a much better friend than a romantic partner.

Friendships Strengthen Relationships
It is practically impossible to be deeply involved with another person before knowing, engaging with, or at least meeting them. These are the building blocks of a friendship that eventually lead to an intimate emotional relationship. Good friends more often than not turn out to be the best of relationship partners who tend to stay together longer, because when the relationship staggers, friendship keeps the two together and reminds them that they are friends before lovers.

Conclusion
Build a strong friendship with your significant other to be able to develop a mutual, respectful, and long-lasting relationship.