How To Make Friends
Need some new friends? You're not alone. "How to make new friends" is a universal dilemma. We are all social creatures and want human attention and company all around us. Happily, the seeds of new friendships are everywhere and it shouldn't be too difficult once you know where to look. VideoJug has put together this guide to help you make friends.
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Step 1:
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Talk To Lots of People
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Have you heard the old saying, "You have to kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince?" Well, you have to talk to a lot of people to find a friend! Look at this as a numbers game: The more people you get to know on an "acquaintance" basis, the better chance you have of finding someone with whom you'll "click." Make small talk with the people you meet. If you are shy or just out of practice, this can seem excruciatingly difficult, so just break the ice by asking them questions like "Where do you live?" or "What do you do?". Compliment them, by saying "I like your shoes/top. Where is it from?". This is a conversation starter and everyone likes to be complimented!
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Step 2:
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Join A Group
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A great way to meet new people is to join a social group, like a book club, an exercise class, salsa or pottery - anywhere where you can meet people. Joining something like this not only means that you will automatically have something "in common" to talk about, but being around people in an organized setup also means that you will see these people regularly, and therefore will have a much better chance to get to know them.
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Step 3:
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Spend Time Together
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After you've identified some potential friends, it's time to make a small gesture. Send a birthday card. Invite her out to coffee. Don't be shy; you'll need to take this small risk to let them know you're interested. Activities such as shopping, going to the cinema and discussing the film afterwards, or reading the same books are helpful at this stage of a friendship because they allow you to discover each other's attitudes and find some common ground. Some friendships never move beyond this level, remaining casual, and others end at this stage. Others will grow and flourish and become solid, lifelong friendships.
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Step 4:
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Make Friends Your Priority
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If having friends is important to you, you must make time for it in your busy schedule. Make friendship a priority in your life. Commit to making two phone calls a week, or extending one invitation a week, or whatever you need to get the results you want. Be consistent and don't give up. Remember to expect some rejection. Not everyone has room in their lives for new friends. That's not your fault. At the same time, be willing to take some risks in your quest for new friends. Tell yourself you've got nothing to lose, and the lifelong benefits of friendship to gain.