These days, there is a saying that friendship is a lost art. There is no telling if such a statement is an exaggeration or not, since everyone these days has “good friends”. But do they really? Is your friend actually a friend or are you actually a friend to someone?
Ever since major social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram came, people have stopped interacting with the physical world as they used to. Everyone with a smartphone and a Facebook app thinks they are friends with 500 people which makes them think they are a good friend. These kinds of friendships are superficial as well as frail. There is absolutely no substance in such friendships—they don’t last very long and never give a positive experience to anyone. It is very important to know that in this day and age, you can’t just be a good friend—you have to learn to be a good friend.
You just can’t become a good friend by getting a degree in it instead you have to learn it all on your own. It’s an art, it takes time, and in the end, it’ll be incredibly beneficial to you.
How to Be a Good Friend
Here are some points listed down that define the qualities of a good friend. Practicing these simple ways can help you become a good friend. Let’s have a look at them:
Always Try to Make an Effort to Meet Them
Nowadays, it is not easy to be in touch with our friends. Being in touch through social media websites is not actually being in touch. Such websites have only hindered us in realizing how lovely life can be with a friend.
But instead of waiting for them to message you or call you, you should take the first step by actually meeting them. Do not worry about how far they are because a good friend will always try to make an effort to meet a friend.
Always Be Honest with Them
Ever since we were little, we may have never been taught how to be a good friend but we were sure taught that honesty is the best policy. In order for you to be a good friend, you should always be honest and truthful to your friends.
If you are honest, they will always come to you for help or for an advice. Always be honest, even if the other person may get hurt, but try to be honest in a gentler way, because in the long run, it will be the best choice.
Be Constructive by Listening to Them
Always listen to whatever your friends are saying. There is nothing worse than listening to them and not hearing them what they are saying—it can be frustrating for them. Give them your undivided attention when they need it
Listen to their difficulties, their hardships, and their ideas no matter how silly they sound. Do not shut off their ideas the moment you hear then, keep things positive and talk constructively and make them feel like you will always be there for them.
Treat Your Friends Equally
Treat your friends with respect. Always remember you are not superior to them and neither they are superior to you. Everyone has flaws and no one is perfect. Treat them how you would treat yourself. Nobody likes to be talked to in a condescending manner.
Always Fulfill Your Promises
In order to build trust, fulfilling your promises is the key to it.
Don’t just keep empty promises or promises you can’t deliver. Don’t make promises that you can’t keep just because you want to make them feel happy for a while—in the end, it will only hurt them even more.
Before making a promise, ask yourself if this is something that is within your reach. If it is, keep the promise and do whatever you need to do to fulfill it. But once that promise is broken it’ll never be the same again. A promise is like a glass, if you keep it, it’ll be safe, but if you drop it, it’ll break into several pieces that you will never be able to fix.
Take Their Preferences into Consideration
If you want to be a good friend, then always try to be aware of your friend’s preferences. For example, if you are someone who smokes and they do not like smoking at all, then try to never smoke in their presence. It’ll make them feel like you care for them and their needs.
If you make them think that their wants and needs matter to you then they will think of you as a good friend. But remember to not sacrifice your happiness in the process, the trick is it makes the experience a positive one while you are with them.
Always Help Them When They are in Need of It
The most important way you can show them that you are a good friend is to be there for them when they need your help.
Always try to help them when they need it, whether it is by just giving them a few encouraging words or by lending them your car for a while.
