Friendships are easier to begin than they are to end. No ritual, like divorce, marks their conclusion. Therefore, we often remain in friendships long after they have ceased to serve us or to reflect who we've grown to be. That's why it's helpful to periodically let some friendships go and to inject an entirely new spirit into others.
The Practice:
Make a list of the ten friends with whom you spend the most time. Put a check mark beside the name of anyone who truly knows, sees, and loves the person you are right now. One by one, consider the relationships that didn't earn this distinction. Decide whether it's time to let them go or to begin an overhaul.
If you need to let a friendship go, allow yourself to feel all the emotions that this decision might bring up. Then, when you're clear and open, proceed in the most loving way possible. If you need to overhaul a friendship, follow the same process. In both situations, be ready for your friends to surprise you. Some might not be up to the challenge that such a moment of truth provides, while others might show new, beautiful colors.
— Raphael Cushnir in How Now