How to be a Better Friend 

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Friendship is important and it is something that people are unable to live happily without. Everyone has at least one close friend that they cherish and would do anything for, but you have to ask yourself if you are truly being a good friend. The majority of people have good intentions when it comes to their friends, but life gets busy and one of the first things that people unintentionally sacrifice is their friends. Do not worry, however, because with the right tips you can get your friendships back on track in no time.

Stop Providing Your Friends with Advice

It is so easy to give advice to friends and in most cases this advice is something that they did not even ask for. Think about a time when you were going through something rough and your friends gave you advice that you did not ask for. What you want to do is simply be an ear and a sounding board for your friend. Even if your friend asks for advice, be careful about how often you give it. While you are always there for your friends, solving their problems all of the time can actually cause problems in your friend relationship.

If you do choose to give advice from time to time, keep it simple and make sure that it is advice that you always follow yourself. At the end of the day, you want to be more of a support figure than a problem solver for those who you love.

Be Open about Who You Are

Your friends love you and there is not a side of you that they have no seen. There is no need to try and suppress different qualities that you have when you are around your friends. As an added bonus, when you are open with your friends, this only helps your friendship get deeper and stronger. So, allow your quirks to shine through and encourage your friends to do the same. You will simply solidify your friendship and make your bond even more airtight so that nothing is able to break you apart.

Always Be Genuine and Celebrate a Friend’s Success

When one of your friends accomplishes something, you should always be happy for them no matter what. Sometimes, it is easy to get a little jealous, especially during those times when life is getting your down. However, being truly happy about the good things in your friend’s life will benefit you too. When you are able to really celebrate the good in their life, this helps to elevate your mood so that you can more easily see the good things that are happening in your life, increasing the chances of even more good things happening for both of you.

Take the Time for Small Gestures

Your friends are always there for you, so it is important that you are there for them when they need a shoulder. Something as simple as a card when they are going through rough times or a cup of coffee when your friend is exhausted will mean the world to them and this helps to strengthen your bond. This also tells your friends that they have someone who cares and it makes them more likely to recognize when you are having a rough time so that they can make some small gestures for you. It is truly a win-win for everyone involved.

Act Like a Child Once in a While

One of the best parts of being an adult is not being an adult once in a while. Plan a day with your closest friends and make it a day where all of you can be kids again. Eat junk food, color, play freeze tag and have a slumber party together while watching your favorite childhood movies. This is a way to strengthen your bond like few other things can.

Your friends are very important and they are people who are partially responsible for the great person you are today. Just keep this in mind and use the tips above to ensure that you are being the best friend that you can be. Remember that friendship is something that humans cannot exist without because it has a strong influence on all of the various aspects of your life. Without a few close friends, people are more prone to issues like depression, so think of your friends as your life blood and it is easy to see why you need to nurture these relationships.

References:

http://tinybuddha.com/blog/25-ways-to-be-a-true-friend/