In John O'Donohue's book "Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom," he expresses that true friendship and love cannot be artificially created or forced through willpower. Instead, these deep connections arise naturally and require genuine recognition of the other person. It suggests that authentic relationships stem from a mutual acknowledgment of each other's presence and essence.

This perspective emphasizes that the foundation of meaningful connections lies in being aware of and valuing one another. Recognizing and appreciating the unique qualities of friends or loved ones is crucial to fostering deep, lasting bonds that are not superficial or contrived.