10 Friendship Qualities: What Makes A Good Friend? Essential Traits For A Rich, Long-Lasting Friendship
The majority of people in the world are arguably “nice”… but do they have what it takes to be a good friend?
1. Humility – Perhaps the most important thing to look for in a friend is their ability to say “I’m sorry” when they have wronged you. No friendship can survive over time without apologies when someone has been hurt. Without humility, relationships quickly turn into a pile of bitterness and competition. Along with apologies, it’s also important that your friend is willing to forgive you.
2. Generosity – Even the most humble of friends will start to annoy you if they are super stingy with their time or money, or constantly take advantage of you. Friends who always seem to “forget their wallet” or constantly fail to “get you back” for that drink last week are not friends worth having.
3. Reliability – You know you have a great friend when you can call them up *almost* any time to talk about an issue, or to crash at their place for the night, or to grab dinner, or whatever. Friends who gossip about you with others, or who seem to bail on you regularly to hang out with someone else, are not to be trusted.
4. Care/Interest – While many people might seem to “care” about you in a surface-deep way, it becomes obvious during the tough times who truly cares about you. Do they just like to hear themselves talk, or do they actually listen and want to know how you feel? Do they exercise discretion with their words and actions regarding sensitive issues? Do they show you appreciation on special days like your birthday?
5. Sense of Humor – Contrary to popular belief, this doesn’t mean that your friend is full of hilarious jokes (there aren’t many people out there like that). It doesn’t mean that they are always laughing, or always optimistic either. Rather, it might mean that they can take a joke, or that they are not regularly offended by what you do or say, or that they can see the lighter side of certain situations.
6. Similar Morals – It’s almost impossible to find two people with the same exact moral beliefs, and if such a situation did exist, it would probably be a somewhat boring friendship! In any case, it’s best to make sure that your closest friends have similar moral beliefs as you when it comes to things that count (i.e. cheating on your partner, drug use, etc).
7. Similar/Complimentary Interests – You might not be marrying your friends, but it tends to work out better when you have interests that compliment each other. If friend #A follows baseball, and friend #B loves football, at least they can both “talk sports” sometimes. It’s not that interests must align, and it’s true that opposites attract (even among friends), but some common interests are still usually a helpful cornerstone.
8. Flexibility – An open mind, though over-praised at times, is always valuable. It’s nice to have friends with strong opinions who hold their ground on certain issues (like when your stupidity needs to be reckoned with, or when you are trying to decide where to eat!), but it’s also quite mandatory that your friends are willing and able to be reasonable when you disagree. Not only does this allow for much more interesting conversation, but it allows your friendship to grow.
9. Respect – There is a certain aspect of someone’s character that can only be described as “respectful.” It’s the part of a friend that cares about your reputation, even when you don’t. It’s the part of a friend that doesn’t let you give up on yourself, or feel down on yourself. It’s the part of a friend that encourages you, and doesn’t try to make themselves seem better than you, even when they might be. And it’s the part of a friend that doesn’t “judge” you, even when they judge you.
10. Fun – What good is a friend if you don’t enjoy being with each other!? They might have many of the qualities listed above, but you just don’t ever have fun together. While they may be a fantastic person, they might not be the best match for you as a good friend. Having fun together is what builds lasting memories.
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i have been separated from mines :'(
I must say I find it very hard to find friends, girl friends with similar interests not totally but generally – any suggestions.Amy is a nut case how is this crap?