How To Make New Friends

We are social creatures. We need to belong. We need to give and receive love. We need to know that no matter how lonely life may feel at times, that we are not alone in the world. We need friends. There are many studies that show online chat that having friends increases your quality of life from both a physical and mental standpoint. 

Of course, most of us don’t need scientific proof to know that friendships are important. But as adults, living in a technology-driven world where we lead crazy-busy lives, making new friends can be challenging. It’s a challenge worth undertaking, though and I hope these tips will make the process of making new friends a little easier.

Instructions

• To stop. Pop in. With friends. They show up. Make an effort. One of the easiest ways to cultivate a new friendship with anyone is to see that person often. You don’t even have to have tons in common. Just meeting face to face can be enough to build a friendship. When I have the opportunity to spend time with people I hope to cultivate a friendship with, take that opportunity.
• Get from the Internet and the world. Virtual friendships are not real friendships. Tweeting, chatting and posting comments on Facebook do not count as bona fide social interaction. Friendship is more satisfying and more beneficial, when it is face to face. Go for a walk, sit and have a coffee, read at the library. Do anything to get on the computer and in the real world.
• Become a regular. Whether it’s volunteer work, dance classes, a sports league, trivia nights, church, band practice, photography club, find something you like to do and then do it once a week.
• Remember names. Listen when people speak. Reflective questions. Really engage in conversations. They want to be friends with those who show sincere interest in their lives, so start by cultivating and showing curiosity about what is going on with the people around you.
• Convey confidence and know that you are worthy of friendship. If you get into a situation of feeling insecure and worrying that the people in the room don’t like you, chances are pretty good that the people in the room don’t like you. People will respond to you based on the energy you put out.
• If you don’t have anything nice to say, bite your tongue. In other words, look for the good in people and talk about that good. If your friends often hear you talk badly about other people, they’re going to know what you say about them when they’re not around. Gossip is petty, and engaging in gossip undermines all of your good qualities that you really want to display in order to make new friends.

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