Conflict is inevitable. How you handle it determines the quality of your relationships.
• Don't avoid difficult conversations — they don't go away, they grow.
• Pick the right time. Tired, drunk, or angry are the worst times to address something important.
• Focus on the behaviour, not the person. 'When you cancel last minute I feel unimportant' vs 'you're so unreliable'.
• Apologise properly: name what you did, acknowledge the impact, don't make excuses. 'I'm sorry you felt that way' is not an apology.
• Some friendships run their course. That's not a failure — it's normal.