Good friends are not that hard to find as long as you know how to recognize them. But, unfortunately, sometimes, most people don’t even realize that they are already in the presence of one just because they’re too busy hanging out with the wrong crowd.
The best people you can have as friends may vary, and they have their own set of unique attitudes and personalities. They may be your funny classmate from your high school days or that thoughtful coworker who would always remind you to take it easy.
Sometimes, friends can come from the most unexpected introductions – that stranger whom you shared an umbrella with on a rainy afternoon or even a random acquaintance who suggested a good book for you to read over the weekends.
Qualities of a Good Friend
There are different types of individuals who can be good friends, and the following important qualities make them one of the best people in the world.
1. Loyal: Good friends stay even when everyone else has left.
When the entire world has already abandoned you, your good friends will be the only ones left to help you stand again – and it’s everything that you’ll ever need.
With their loyalty, good friends will never let you feel that you’re alone even if you think that you don’t deserve anyone, especially after a failure or a disappointment.
2. Accepting: A good friend doesn’t judge you for being different.
A good friend will respect your decisions and accept how you want to live your life – even if they don’t understand it. They will be there for you to help you celebrate the person you want to become. They will encourage you to recognize your uniqueness, and they will be there to help you face the world without the fear of being judged or rejected.
3. Honest: Good friends let you see reality as it is.
Good friends won’t sugarcoat things, especially if they know that letting you deny reality can eventually harm you. They will be there to slap you with the most painful truth, even if it means hurting your feelings. They are willing to look like the wrong person just to save you from a more devastating consequence.
4. Caring: A good friend will remind you to be good to yourself.
A good friend is that person who will remind you to love yourself more. This is true, especially if you’re in a toxic romantic relationship. They will remind you every day to look after yourself more and be good to yourself first instead of slowly breaking your heart because of a toxic partner.
They will remind you that you deserve self-love and that taking care of yourself should be one of your priorities.
ALSO READ: 15 Ways to Show Your Friends that You Care
5. Positive: Good friends can help you love life more.
Good friends are good for your mental and emotional health. These are the people who will tell you how to love life more, to be more optimistic, and how to live it to the fullest. They will be the reminders that life is an adventure that should not be kept waiting – and trust that they’ll be there to make every journey more fun and exciting.
6. Inspiring: A good friend teaches you how to become a better person.
Good friends are your real-life guide to becoming the best version of yourself. They will inspire you to be a better person by learning to be a more caring, loving, and kind individual. With their example, they will help you realize that you have a lot more to offer.
ALSO READ: 10 Inspiring Ways to be a Better Friend
7. Patient: Good friends will be there – even when you’re at your worst.
Even when you’re not exactly an angel, trust your friends to be still around no matter how annoying or inconsiderate you become. This is because they recognize that not everyone is perfect, and everyone has their bad days.
Just make sure to make it up to them and thank them for sticking around, especially when you’re in your worst mood.
8. Comforting: Good friends make you feel safe and at peace with yourself.
A good friendship can be your sanctuary – a refuge from the chaos and the mess of work, school, and other aspects of your busy life. This is because good friends can quickly and effortlessly make you feel safe and at peace with yourself.
In the presence of good friends, you feel relaxed and secure, knowing that you’re with the people who genuinely love and care about you.
9. Present: A good friend always shows up when you need someone the most.
They will never be too busy or too occupied to spend time with you. They will always make sure that you won’t be alone in your most painful moments, and they will see to it that they’re there during your happiest celebrations.
Time and distance don’t matter to them because you are a big part of their life, and they’ll never hesitate to show or prove it.
10. Supportive: A good friend believes in your potential to reach your dreams.
A good friend will always see the best in you – even if you’re already too ambitious. For them, you can do anything you put your soul into because they believe in your potential. They are your number one fans who will cheer you up in every victory, loss, accomplishment, or failure.
11. Committed: A good friend will always be in your life no matter what.
Even if they’re far away and regardless of the years that you’re apart, you will always have a friend in them – because a good friendship is forever. It’s the best kind of relationship that you will ever have with another person. It will never end: no breakups, no goodbyes – just pure love, respect, and appreciation of being connected with this particular soul.
You’re one of the lucky few if you have someone you think of as a good friend in your life. But, just as how they are good to you, you also have to do your part to make it work. How? Appreciate their existence and, most importantly, let them know that their presence in your life makes every day worthwhile through your words and actions.
Hopefully, this article was able to help you realize the true essence of friendship and how you can recognize a genuine friend when you’re in the presence of one.
Being good to your friends is not only about helping them when they need help or being with them when they need someone to talk to. Good friends are more than that. They have patience, understanding, selflessness, and some sacrifice.
How to Be a Good Friend
Good and genuine friends are great to have in your life. But in order to earn them, you must also be a good friend to them. Here are 20 ways to be a good friend and even the best friend they can ever have.
1. Be a good listener.
Listen to your friends while they are talking and be enthusiastic about their life stories. A good friend is interested in what’s happening in their friends’ lives. So give them the chance to talk, listen eagerly, and make them feel that someone is interested in their stories too.
2. Admit your mistakes and weaknesses.
Avoid acting like an omnipotent and omniscient person. Understand that we cannot do or know everything. Being a know-it-all person will only annoy your friends. It will also make them feel that you don’t believe in them. To be a good friend, learn to humble yourself and show that like other human beings, you are also susceptible to making mistakes.
3. Be a peacemaker and learn to apologize sincerely.
Learn how to say sorry when you have hurt your friends, even if they have also hurt you. Be a peace-loving friend by being the first one to apologize. Prove your sincerity with humility.
4. Forgive them.
Forgive their sins even before they ask forgiveness from you. Some friends may not realize that they are already doing things that are offensive to you. Either you tell them frankly that they have offended you and they must apologize to you, or simply forgive them without telling them anyway. Your goal is to avoid hatred from growing and corrupting your heart.
5. Get rid of pride in your heart.
Pride is one of the most destructive forces in any relationship, including friendship. It’s not easy to show humility if your heart is corrupted by pride. With a proud heart, you will find it hard to apologize or forgive someone. Get rid of pride in your heart by being a more genuine friend who really cares. Cleanse your heart with kindness, love, and compassion. Don’t plant hatred in your heart, as it amplifies the pride that exists inside.
6. Help your friends because they need it, not because you need it.
In other words, help them or give something to them because it makes them happy, not because it makes you happy or gives you some comfort. Helping a friend should be done without self-interest.
Make your friends feel that they can be trusted by sharing your problems. Make them feel that they are also needed and are dependable by asking them for some help.
8. Love their loved ones.
Live in harmony with your friend’s loved ones, like their spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend, parents, other family members, and even other friends. Avoid getting jealous of them just because they also share in your friend’s time and attention.
9. Keep your promises and don’t lie.
Did you promise to be at your friend’s wedding day? Did you agree to go with them on a beach trip? Whatever your promises are, whether they are small or big, always deliver them. Do your best to not disappoint your friends.
10. Keep their secrets.
Keeping the secrets that they have entrusted you will show how trustworthy you are to them. Don’t make them feel betrayed. Take care and protect their secrets.
If you trust them, you will share your secrets with them. And if you are really a good friend, you won’t hide anything from them. Share your secrets to them as they tell you theirs.
12. Trust them more.
Trust your friends’ own decisions and actions. Understand that they know what’s best for themselves. Also, trust the good pieces of advice they give you. Do not ignore their warnings. Understand that they only want what’s good for you.
13. Learn how to take a joke.
Jokes among friends are what make friendship fun, not boring. Learn how to take your friends’ jokes. Do not get easily angered. Do not create a blockage that will hinder the fun and laughter inside your friendship. Be patient, understanding, and keep cool.
14. Show some respect.
Respect your friends’ privacy. Give them some space if they need it. Furthermore, respect your friends’ uniqueness. Be careful when dealing with the things which are sensitive to them, like the things that are related to their gender, family, and romantic relationships.
15. Be loyal.
Don’t exchange your friendship with money, popularity, and other selfish interests. Be loyal, not only to your friend but also to your friendship.
ALSO READ: 10 Ways to Keep Your Friends Forever
16. Don’t make them feel alone.
Never make your friends feel alone, even during a fight, argument or misunderstanding. Do not create a wall that will stop you from communicating, caring, and helping for good no matter what.
17. Help them grow as a person.
Do not corrupt your friends’ character. Instead, help them grow as a person. Be a role model of good virtues, like self-discipline, patience, persistence, honesty, and kindness.
18. Appreciate their efforts.
Whether it’s a small or big thing, learn to value what your friends have done for you. You may not know how much thinking, planning, time consuming, and efforts they have spent just to offer something for you. Of course, genuine friends will not expect something in return for any kindness they show you, but a little appreciation would not harm you.
19. Be their best support system.
People need a support system to go on and encourage them in their endeavors in life. One great supporter they can have is their friends. Be that friend who cheers them up to achieve their goals and dreams. Do not be that self-centered friend who competes with them and tries to pull them down.
20. Be selfless and make a sacrifice.
Real friends make sacrifices for their friends. Without sacrifice, you will find it hard to follow the tips above. Sacrifice your own pride to be humble enough to forgive your friends. Sacrifice your own time to be with them and not make them feel alone. Sacrifice your energy to help them in any way. And sacrifice your self-interest to make your friendship grow and even last forever.
Good friends are hard to find. If you cannot find them, find someone first within yourself. In other words, develop yourself to be a good friend to others. When you become a good person, you will naturally attract a lot of friends into your life. Just don’t forget to carefully choose who your close friends will be. Remember that bad company may corrupt your good character. Therefore, as a precaution, to maintain your goodness as a friend, choose good friends too.
ALSO READ: 10 Inspiring Ways to be a Better Friend
15 Ways to Show Your Friends that You Care
1. Listen to their rants.
2. Tell them how much you care.
3. Appreciate and compliment them.
4. Be there when they need you.
5. Always communicate with them.
6. Make time with them.
7. Show them social media love.
8. Celebrate their accomplishments.
9. Surprise them!
10. Go on new adventures.
11. Encourage them during bad times.
12. Introduce them to someone you love.
13. Understand their struggle.
14. Ask them if they need help from you.
15. Be a loyal and caring friend for them every day.
Please visit How to Show Your Friends that You Care for the details.
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I don’t have friends
you can count on me if you need one