Think about this.

Check this:

'A good friend accepts you for who you are, but a REAL friend won't let you stay that way.'

Okay. Take a moment to think about that statement. What does it mean?

People are always (sorry if I am generalising) under the impression that friends will accept you just the way you are and leave it at that. Sure, there is nothing wrong with that. But they are also under the impression that is the way it should be: that friends are accepting of who you are as a person. This is true, but then there is also the fact that everybody has faults and imperfections. Do you think you would be a real friend to someone if you let them stay the way they are?? I don't.

Maybe it would help with an example:

Say that there were three friends. Bob, Tom and Jim have known each other their whole lives. They get along really well and know each other to the tiniest of details. (That means that they are aware of each other's faults too.)
Now, one day, Bob mixes with the wrong crowd and gets himself addicted to drugs. Of course his friends are there to give their support and are willing to help him beat it out. But guess what. After a while, Bob decides that he DOESN'T want to beat it and would rather just continue taking drugs.
Tom accepts his friends decision and allows him to do what he wants. He even goes as far as HELPING his friend obtain the drugs. Jim, however, has other plans. Jim goes and tracks Bob down and gives him warnings as well as promises his help and support to get him out of the situation. Bob uses 'if you were my friend, you would accept and respect my decision' to try and get Jim off his back. Jim isn't dumb. Instead of listening to what Bob says, he puts his foot down and beats up the guy. All the while telling him that he better change.
In the end, Bob stops doing drugs. He stays friends with Tom but can no longer look Jim in the eye and tries to avoid him. You know what? Jim doesn't care. Bob stopped and that is all that matters to him.

That's right. A REAL friend should be willing to sacrifice their friendship with you for your benefit. When you say "If you were my friend, you would accept me" just be careful. Would you really want your friends to 'accept' you and watch you rot before their eyes because you chose to do so? If they point out your flaws, call you out on a mistake you made or even threaten you to get you to stop doing something, just realise that they are helping you out.

At the same time, don't be afraid to do the same thing to them. Don't take this reasoning as an excuse to make fun of your friends and insult them. No. This is just supposed to make you realise that a REAL friend is someone you accepts you, but always wants you to change for the better.

I know this is already relevant in some situations. Don't hate the friends who try to change you (for the better), love them more. Remember, they are only looking out for you. :)