A good friend can be hard to come by, especially when you are an adult. But there are a few qualities to look out for to ensure your new friendship will continue to blossom. There are a number of characteristics that set genuine friends aside from your other friends.
So what makes a good friend?
You might have many acquaintances and a handful of friends. But only the best of the best get to be called good friends. So what sets these amazingly great friends apart from the rest? If your lucky, you’ll find some of your existing friends with a few of these qualities.
A good friend is trustworthy
A trustworthy friend is a friend you should never let go. We all know that trust needs to be earned, but you really do need to start somewhere. And why not give a new friend a lot of trust to begin with? Having trust to begin with is a great way to ensure the friendship has a solid foundation. You can pour your heart out to a trustworthy friend and know that they are going to be tight-lipped about everything you’ve just said. You can share private information with them knowing that nothing will become of it.
A good friend is helpful
Another sign of a good friend is someone that is helpful. And sometimes that means getting help whether you’ve asked for it or not.
That might mean dropping something off to you at work or your house. It might mean being the designated driver. It might mean helping you to get professional help in some way. It could also mean picking you up from hospital 30 minutes from her home in the middle of the night.
A good friend is supportive
You’ve probably heard the saying good friends are like bras, supportive. And it’s true. Without the love and support from great friends who knows where we might be. I know I wouldn’t have booked that next session with my psychologist if my friends hadn’t been supportive. A good friend can be supportive during tough times as well. Offering encouragement, some home-cooked meals or even just their company.
A good friend is accepting
We all make the wrong decision at some stage or another. And a good friend is able to accept those mistakes and be accepting of the choices you make in your life.
Sure, you might date someone your friend doesn’t like, but that doesn’t mean they don’t accept that that is your decision.
A good friend accepts your crazy family, your hard-ass boss and your new partner. They also accept your new hair colour, your tattoo choices and your taste in music, even if they occasionally tease you about them.
A good friend is honest
A good friend is honest and willing to tell you the truth or most always. Sometimes a few little white lies never go astray, but honesty is always the best policy.
They’ll be honest about those flared jeans you’re trying to bring back into fashion. They’ll be honest when they tell you what they really think of your new hairstyle.
A good friend listens
A good friend listens, and I mean really listens. They don’t butt in to give their two cents every few sentences. Listening to you, letting you vent and then deciding whether to ask further questions or offer some feedback in relation to what they have just heard. They sometimes offer advice too, but they also know the difference when it’s needed or wanted.
A good friend is encouraging
A good friend offers encouragement in every possible way. They’ll encourage you to quit your job or take that job offer or take up a new hobby or ask out that person you can’t stop talking about. They encourage you to look after yourself and to be a better version of yourself. They encourage you to go bigger and better and dream for greater things in life.
A good friend communicates with you
Just like any relationship, friendships also need a great deal of communication. And just like being a good listener, a good friend can communicate with you. There are so many ways to communicate now; it won’t take too long before you discover the perfect style for your friendship. Some basic ways to communicate are:
- Phone calls
- Letters (snail mail)
- Text messages or messaging apps
- Facebook messages or groups
- Snapchat
A good friend is relatable
A relatable friend is someone that might be in a similar situation in a few parts of their lives. You might be able to relate to them through the work you do, the type of family you have or your interests. And being able to share and learn from each other’s experience is what helps build this into a strong friendship.
A good friendship is reciprocal
A good friendship is one that is reciprocal in nature. That means that you both do things for each other and help each other out. That might mean you take turns being the designated driver for squad night. It might mean you take turns having each other over so the kids can have a playdate. It might mean that you all chip in when you have a picnic and share your food.
Good friends can be hard to find. But once you find one or two, you’ll undoubtedly want to hang onto them especially if they have several of these qualities.The Types of Friends Everyone Needs in Life
