Cursory or Intentional

A good barometer of a relationship is in what form your mutual support materializes.

Cursory support is congratulatory; a pat on the back or a “way to go.” It’s not really support at all. This is the sort of support you can expect from most people in your life. It’s not bad, of course, but it’s superficial and lacking effort.

Intentional support is precise, thorough. This is especially important when a friend is going out on a limb with a personal project or problem. It takes effort to intentionally support someone. When failure is possible, as is the case when a friend is going out on a limb, your direct intentional support is most appreciated and most valuable.

When you find yourself giving or receiving intentional support you’ve found something special. Take that for granted at your peril.