Racing to finish your duties before bedtime can leave you feeling overwhelmed and overworked. You need to be yourself – your real self and not pretend to be someone else. A good way to prove you are trustworthy is to be free to share some of your own secrets with your friend. The best way to ruin any friendship is by being close minded and failing to see the other side. ©2020 Verizon Media. Learn more about working with Thought Catalog. It takes only 90 seconds on average to respond to a text message. This is the number one problem that often ruins friendships, people are just not dependable. You shouldn’t be backing off when it comes to help your friend. A great friend will remember all the goodness and positivity in another's life and will focus on that. Pick a spot you always wanted to explore, such as California’s Highway 1. Win-win? Here are 10 ways to be a good friend that will make you and your BFF even more joined at the hip: While friends can go years without speaking to each other, a good one remembers to check the weather on more than rare occasions. Find someone else.” A good friend is supposed to be supportive, not rude. No matter how long you've been friends or how solid your relationship is, know that a great friend will never, ever take that relationship for granted. The contagion effect is real. How can you prevent falling out of touch? Are you willing to be a friend like that? 1. Given below are the ways to be a good friend. If you promise something, follow it through. 2. Here are eight qualities you should strive to develop with your spouse, children and […], Have you decided to work from home permanently? But I will continue to support you in your relationship with him.” Another thing is if you’re going out with your significant other, but your friend asked if you could hang out, don’t lie and say something other than the truth. Privacy Policy
Don’t judge them by their views about something. They break promises that have been made for months, they lie and basically prove that they can’t be depended on. You may unsubscribe at any time. But that's what a great friend does. 1. You and your BFF will feel closer than when you first met years ago. Know when to let go and walk away. Friendship is one of the most essential elements for creating a positive life. Dedicated to your stories and ideas. 7 Benefits of Gratitude That Will Remind You To Be Thankful Daily. Be dependable, allow your friend to count on you and be there. ... because supporting someone when they need it the most is the true hallmark of a good friend. No matter how down or stressed you feel, a great friend will remind you that you're awesome, that you're on the right path (as long as you are...), and that you can do it. Everyone needs encouragement. The word “love” is a big word, throwing it around when you don’t mean it can be very painful and hurtful. You need to be yourself – your real self and not pretend to be someone else. The best parts of marriage — little inside jokes — apply to friendship, too. To have great friends, you must be a great friend; these are some of the vital aspects needed to cultivate that greatness: Tough times are a part of life. Encourage your friend. While one certainly could be positive without friends, it's much easier to stay optimistic with great people by your side. Don’t say things so that you give the impression of being loving or caring. Why not sign up to take a pottery class or master Spanish together? Who knows? Nobody is perfect, but sometimes, when you make a mistake, you react defensively. I have some great friends—many of which I've had for over a decade!—but I wasn't exactly sure how these friendships had gotten so strong and lasted so long. Kick back and split the box of tissues. A great friend knows this and puts in the time and energy needed to create and sustain a good relationship. Recently, I received a request to write a post about friendship. "Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.". But being honest, say something like, “Why are you still dating him? This is the most important fact to remember before you even think of starting a friendship. Think of how excited your puppy gets when going on a car ride. Breaking up With a Friend You Love: How to Cope With the Aftermath, What Makes a Good Family Relationship: 8 Qualities, Working From Home Distractions: 8 Causes and Cures. That tags-on blouse that made their complexion look ghastly could flatter your skin tone. If you want to be a good friend, use the 10 tips above. Not only will you feel better when you're around them, but research shows keeping regular communication with friends can increase happiness levels. To be a great friend, you must both give and receive. Why You’re Feeling Tired All the Time (and What to Do About It), Learn How to Be Productive and Happy With These 11 Tips, How to Prevent Decision Fatigue From Clouding Your Judgement, 10 Adorable Characteristics Happy People Have, 7 Simple Exercises Busy People Can Do Anywhere, Anytime, 6 Ways To Raise Your Emotional Intelligence (EQ), 7 Free Ways to Make Yourself More Attractive, How to Fight Your Irrational Fears and Stay Strong, 5 Simple Steps to Cultivate a Positive Mental Attitude, The 5 Most Important Things in Life You’ll Regret Not Pursuing, Why Does Life Suck So Bad Sometimes? Don’t lie, what’s the point? Try one of these tips the next time your BFF is feeling down -- because supporting someone when they need it the most is the true hallmark of a good friend. Even when it's tempting to throw in the towel, a great friend will stick by your side and do his/her best to work through tough times. 1. A depressive mood was not "contagious" among friends, dispelling the popular myth that you might be able to "catch" a mental illness. This is something that I struggled with in the past. I can’t believe you’re still dating him. No, "I like your sweater" doesn't count. ), but a great friend refrains from judging, knowing that judgments will only put strain on the relationship. If that were the case, the world would be full of good friends and one would sometimes never feel the need of a family. This concept is generally cited in reference to romantic relationships, but you will … Great friends don't stop encouraging you, even when you've completed a goal. However, responding to your friend’s dismay that you spilled red wine all over their white shirt you borrowed with a statement like, “Well, your cat chewed my yoga mat,” won’t strengthen your bond. A great friend is willing to speak the truth, but he or she holds back from adding personal judgment to those words of wisdom. If you want a good friendship, you have to be able to confront them with things that are on your mind. If you want a friendship to grow, show up and be there! A study in the journal Appetite found that sharing a meal with someone increases happiness and prosocial behaviors. One of the primary drawbacks is that distractions can keep you from completing your tasks on time. Everyone has different opinions on various things in life. They are a once-in-a-lifetime find you need to hold onto tight. A great friend will make a point to treasure the relationship and will make it clear how much s/he values it. If you’re considering breaking up with a friend you love, you need to […], Family makes enduring the slings and arrows of life worth it. This is the most important fact to remember before you even think of starting a friendship. Ten ways to be a good friend are:Be there for the friend when he/she needs you.Be honest.Be kind.Never make fun of or put your friend down. Understand what the word means and then say it, you can like a friend a lot but that doesn’t mean you love them. Even if the words are hard to say, a great friend will always, always tell the truth. There’s no clear definition of what a good friend should be like, but it’s through unspoken words that generations have understood what good friends actually are. Root, root, root for the home team (and for your friend's well-being in the process). A recent study published in the journal Motivation and Emotion found that people who watched emotionally-charged movies reported better moods after they watched the film and had a good cry. If your friend calls you in the middle of the night, hear what they’ve got to say rather than jumping on their nerves for calling you so late. Try and be honest, if you can’t be somewhere, just tell them. Friendship is a two-way street. | Kesse Kisses, Being a Good Friend | The Friend Frontier. If you want to be a great friend, you have to make an effort. Instead, admit it when you mess up — everybody does, and real friends forgive each other. 8. Being a friend isn't always easy—there are ups and downs, just like in any relationship—and it actually takes a lot of hard work to create a lasting and meaningful relationship. You and your friend were once so close you considered yourselves BFFs. Contact
Another way to look at a friendship is to imagine it as a bike. And even when times are tough in the relationship, a great friend will strive to see the good in the friendship. Be truthful to them and if you don’t want to talk about it (or if it’s something you want to keep for now) say that you can’t. If you want a good friendship, you have to be able to confront them with things that are on your mind. A good way to prove you are trustworthy is to be free to share some of your own secrets with your friend. Good friends aren’t protective of you in a self-interested, possessive way; they’re protective of you, all the oddly shaped, precious, intrinsic bits that make up your traveling soul, because those are the bits that truly gravitationally attract us to bright, brilliant souls. Though a great friend will be honest and truthful, s/he will also search for the good and focus on the positive elements of a friend's life. In fact, some of the best relationships can come develop with those who are quite different. Nothing like a little sunshine to brighten someone's outlook. As Beverly Kesse puts it: […]. Avoid these people and avoid being like those people. […] http://thoughtcatalog.com/beverly-kesse/2014/10/10-tips-on-being-a-good-friend/ […], […] Thought Catalog gave 10 tips on Friday, Oct. 3 about being a good friend. Don’t be the kind of friend who throws around the “love” word, the friend that says “you’re like my sister/brother, I love you like family” when in reality you don’t mean it.