Be More Friendly And Social
1. Talk To People.
While making friends with someone we meet regularly is a good start. You should not limit yourself and try to make friends with someone you just meet. Keep in mind the 30% talking/70% listening ratio. This is the general rule but it also depends on the number of participants, the environment and the conversation. So, how to do it? Keep it simple and be yourself. Think of a subject to talk about before approaching someone. Little things go a long way, so start it up and gain more friends. Don’t forget to smile and make eye contact.
2. Focus On Others, Not Yourself.
The important thing in connecting to other people is in showing interest in them. You’ll make more friends by showing your interest on others rather than trying to get people interested in you. When you’re sincerely interested in someone else’s thoughts, feelings, experiences, stories, and opinions, it shows—and they’ll like you for it.
3. Be Genuine In Making Friends.
Don’t just pretend to be interested or show you care, you’re efforts will likely backfire. Eventually, it will show up you’re just faking it. If you are not honestly interested in other person, then stop trying to connect.
4. Self-Disclosure is Important.
After some small talks and casual exchange of jokes, what if you want to turn a casual acquaintance into a true friend? Friendship is characterized by affection. True friends know things about each other,which can include thoughts, feelings, aspirations, goals, failures, successes, fears, and dreams, as well as one’s likes, dislikes, and favorites. If you’d like to shift from acquaintances to friends, the best way to do so is to open up to the other person. You don’t have to reveal your most closely-held secret. Start small with something a little bit more personal than what you normally discuss and see how the other person responds.
Where To Start Meeting New Friends
We tend to make friends with people we encounter regularly. The more we see someone, the more likely our chances of developing friendship with them. Be open to new ideas and experiences when meeting new people. It will not always be successful but you can always gain new experience and have fun.
1. Volunteer.
2. Join an organization or club.
3. Meet-up Groups.
4. Get a workshop or short courses.
5. Attend art gallery openings, book readings, lectures, music recitals, or other community events.
6. Track down old friends via social medias and initiate a get together.
7. Take extra-curricular activities(varsity team, cheer leading squad, choir,etc.)
8. Social Media of course although it is good to have virtual friends but it’s best to have friends who are physically present.
9. Neighborhood.
10. Parties and other social events.
Being A Better Friend And How To Improve Your Friendship
The journey into friendship takes some time and is not that easy. It takes some time to form and deepen the connection of friendship. If you are sincerely interested, nurture and invest in that friendship. It will take much effort and struggle but it will be worth it.
Be the friend that you would like to have. Treat your friend just as you want them to treat you. Be reliable, thoughtful, trustworthy, and willing to share yourself and your time.Be a good listener. Many people think that in order to be seen as “friend material” they have to appear very interesting. To develop a solid friendship with someone, be prepared to listen and support them just as you want them to listen and support you.
Don’t be too clingy or needy. Give them space and be sure not to abuse your friend’s generosity. Everyone needs space to be alone or spend time with other people as well.
Do it without any expectations. Instead, allow your friendship to evolve naturally. A friendship is a supportive union between two people. Do it because you want to, and not because you need to.If you approach others sincerely, you will attract people who want to connect genuinely.
Be forgiving. No one is perfect and each of us makes mistakes. No friendship develops easily so when there’s a problem, try to find a way to overcome the problem and move on.
Be open-minded. Don’t judge.Yes, we have expectations as to what should our friends are. Perhaps, she is understanding, listens, has the same hobbies, watches the same movies, has similar educational background etc. And then, when your expectations were not met, you might just turn down you friendship. Don’t do that. Thus, allow your friendship a chance to grow and blossom.
Choose Your Friends Wisely
As friendship works both ways, a friend is also someone you feel comfortable supporting and accepting, and someone with whom you share a bond of trust and loyalty. They shares a deep level of understanding and communication with you. A good friend will show a genuine interest in what’s going on in your life, what you have to say, and how you think and feel about things.
As you meet new people and try to make them as you friends, you find that some are easier to get a long to while others are not. Certain friendships are unhealthy, especially if a person tries to control you, criticizes you, abuses your generosity, or brings unwanted danger, drama, or negative influences into your life, it’s time to take a hard look at the value of the friendship.
Focus on the way a friendship feels, not what it looks like. Don’t get caught up with external qualifications.
Ask yourself the following questions:
Do I feel better after spending time with this person?
Do I feel free to be myself around this person?
Do I feel safe, or do I feel like I have to watch what I say and do?
Is the person supportive of me? Does he or she treat me with respect?
Is this a person I feel that I could trust?
A positive and healthy friendship does not obliged you to act against your own values, always agree with the other person, or disregard your own needs. Give importance to those friends who are a positive influence in your life, and do your best to be a positive influence in theirs.
