How to Make and Keep Friends

by Hezza in Relationships, January 8, 2009

This article is a basic guide to how to make and keep friends which includes some important principles that you should apply to achieve this. Whether you are stuck in a social rut at the moment or just don’t know exactly why you’re “friends” are acting so defensive, this guide is for you to read. Hope you enjoy! By the way, feedback is of course, always appreciated.

The second thing you must do is if you are wrong, or even if you think you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphasize that you are wrong. Why should you emphasize it? If you look at two cases, one person admits he/she is wrong and changes the topic quickly to avoid further embarrassment, another person admits he/she is wrong but continues to apologize for being incorrect, wasting the other person’s time, for being so ignorant etc. Obviously the second person would be more welcomed and accepted as no one likes someone better than an honest man.

Lastly, the thing you must do to fix your ways, is remember one important principle. That is, The only way to “win” an argument is to avoid it. I’ve learnt that personally myself, with friends and with my parents. If you start an argument, or enter one, the chances of you winning are zero. You can either lose an argument obviously, or you can win one. But the result of you winning is resentment and bitterness towards you, and for me, that is losing already. What is the point of arguing when the result is either you feeling resentment towards the other person or the other person feeling resentment towards you. So remember this one principle and you will have avoided one of the biggest obstacles in human relations.

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After doing these things, you will be a good conversationalist but to be a great conversationalist, you must do one thing and that is to make the other person feel important. How? Well, you must sympathize with them, praise them plentifully and never complain or criticize their weaknesses or wrongdoings. By making them feel important, they will enjoy being in your presence and the memories of you making them feel important will certainly be an everlasting one in their mind.

If you apply all these principles, as I will again emphasize, then wherever you go, whenever it may be, you will make friends who will forever be grateful towards you.