When we were kids, it seemed like we made a new friend every day. In high school and university, we can make friends who will remain friends for life. As adults, friends can come and go with only one or two who will stay our friends forever.
At every stage of our lives, having friends is crucial. They could serve a new purpose as we age, but they’re still necessary and crucial. As we age, it can be challenging to build and maintain friendships because as we learn more and develop our views, morals, and sentiments, things that didn’t bother us as children may suddenly raise red flags for us as adults.
Here are some tips that will help you learn how to become a better friend.
Acts of Kindness
Acts of kindness are underrated in the world of friendships and relationships. Do a small act of kindness for your friends every once in a while to show that you appreciate and love them. Some examples include leaving a positive text message in the morning, getting them a funny gift to brighten their day, or simply treating them to a tasty smoothie.
Be Honest
Being able to tell your friend about what’s bothering you or something bad you did is the foundation of every true friendship. You should be free to tell them anything without feeling judged.
If you should go out with your friend, what would you rather think of? A trustworthy friend will comprehend and won’t judge you for your decisions but rather offer help if needed. You risk ruining your friendship if you turn to your friend and express your feelings, only for them to find out later from someone else.
Trust is the Key
A reliable friend keeps their word when they promise to support you no matter what, do one thing and do it well, or when they promise to always be there when you need them. If a friend confides in you and wants you to keep their information private, you must keep it to yourself.
Friends need to be assured that you will keep the information private and that you are a person of word because if friends find out that their secret has been revealed for something that was intended to be private, this may serve as the foundation for ending the friendship.
Be a Good Listener
The best medication is often someone who is attentive and actively listens to us, rather than giving us advice or sharing their own experiences. You can realize things for yourself when you discuss issues or emotions. You don’t always need to hear another person’s perspective on what happened.
Laugh with your Friend
The best medicine is laughter, and having a friend to share it would make you feel wonderful. Consider spending time with a good friend as you both watch a comedy movie or a television program.
Associating this sense of joy and humor with a wonderful friend can serve as a constant reminder for your friend each time you watch that film or television program, and when you two get together, talking about those amusing memories will make you both laugh again.
Be Confident
You need someone to share your goals, dreams, secrets, and foolish thoughts with. It’s not about keeping something vital from your spouse or sharing it with them; you may have someone significant in whom to confide, but there are occasions when you must disclose information that isn’t acceptable to share with your partner.
Some topics need to be discussed with a person you are confident won’t criticize you, will offer advice if you need it, or will remain silent if it’s essential. In conclusion, we cannot fully enjoy and respect other people and things in our lives unless we first learn to value and respect ourselves. So, give to yourself the same kindness, tolerance, faith, empathy, and compassion that you would give to your friend.
Simply said, we need to make time for ourselves, understand our feelings, and learn how to love ourselves. To be a better friend to someone, you must first understand how to be a better friend with yourself. Then, everything will be much easier for everyone.
