What makes a good friend

What makes a good friend?

What makes a good friend?

Good friends make you feel good

Good friends say and do things that make you feel good, giving compliments and congratulations and being happy for you.

Good friends support each other

If you’re feeling down, a good friend will support you. If you need help, a good friend will try to help you out.

Good friends don’t always have everything in common

Everyone is different, and has different hobbies and interests. Even if you’re not into the exact same things, a good friend will encourage you rather than making you feel bad for liking a different band, activity, TV show or animal! A good friend understands that sometimes you do your own thing, and enjoys doing the things you have in common together.

Good friends listen

A good friend allows you to talk and doesn’t interrupt you. They’re interested in what you have to say.

Good friends are trustworthy

If you tell a good friend something private, they won’t share it. You can trust a good friend not to be judgmental.

Good friends handle conflict respectfully and respect boundaries

Sometimes you and your friend might disagree on something. Sometimes you might have said or done something that upset your friend. A good friend will tell you if you’ve done something to hurt them. If you tell a good friend they’ve hurt you, they’ll be sorry and won’t do it again.

Good friendships go both ways

It’s not a good friendship if one of you is doing all the talking and the other is doing all the listening, all the time. Good friends make each other feel good, rather than one friend receiving all the compliments and the other giving them all the time. In a good friendship, you’re making each other feel great!

Having a group of friends

Don’t limit yourself by having just one “best friend”. Your friendship is something special which you can share with everyone who needs a friend! Sometimes friends drift apart or fall out. That’s a part of life. Having more than one friend means it’s more likely there will be someone who can help you when you need it. See our guide to making new friends to find new people in your life to share friendship with.

Friends not followers

In the digital world you can feel under pressure to have a lot of friends and followers. Remember that you only need a small circle of friends to be happy, and it’s a good idea to keep your most precious (and private) thoughts and moments for those that really care about you.

Help! I have a bad friend!

Sometimes you might realise that someone you considered a friend hasn’t been a good friend to you. Our friendships and frenemies page has advice for what you can do in this situation.

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What Makes A Good Friend?

Filed Under: Essays Tagged With: friendship

It’s common to say that a good friend should be loyal or respectful because those are the first things that come to mind. Are you thinking of those qualities in terms of the friends you have now or because that is what society states makes a good friend. You’ll read it in almost any magazine or newspaper article on the subject. Not too many people actually take time to consider the qualities of their friends. The friendship just sort of happens and either lives or dies. Looking at the diversity of people in the world you’ll come to realize that in fact it is quite impossible to measure what qualities make a good friend. The peers you choose are there to answer an inadequacy in your life or validate a personality or belief.

Some people enjoy crowding themselves with copious amounts of friends. I grew up with this girl named Diana and became very close to her. After elementary school I moved to another district while Diana stayed behind. When I came back to visit I noticed that Diana had lots of friends; most of which were not even loyal or caring towards her. They made fun of her sometimes but she loved them anyway. Diana had very low self esteem coupled with a very poor relationship with her parents. I realized that Diana didn’t choose these friends for their qualities; she chose them because she needed them to fill the emotional void in her life. She needed them because she wanted to feel a part of something. This is just one of many cases where I have seen people crowding themselves with friends due to emotional inadequacies. To allow for some diversity I’d like to take a look at people who choose to have only one friend in their life.

The Term Paper on The role of advertisement in people’s life

My mother is one of those people. She regards the word “friend” as a sacred term. She has one friend, and they’ve been friends for forty-two years. She believes that it’s about feeling safe with a person. My mother is a very secure and independent woman. She has no real voids to fill in her life; however, for her having a best friend in her life is important to her growth as a person. For my mother having a good friend is vital for learning about human emotion and for building or validating character within you. But what about the people who choose to be completely bankrupt of all friends? Why might they choose this?

The Advent Encyclopedia states that hermits are men who have fled the society of their fellow-men to dwell alone in retirement. Not all of them, however, sought so complete a solitude as to avoid absolutely any intercourse with their fellows. Most remained close to inhabited places, from which they procured their food. They didn’t need anyone for support or to build their character. According to the Old Testament of the Bible, they needed only the friendship of God as it was the only one true and perfect friendship.

Life and people are always changing and evolving. People with many friends may find that he or she doesn’t need as many friends anymore. This could be due to some type of major life change or realization of self worth in the case of Diana. A person with one friend might find that having more than one friend allows for as much if not more personal growth for him or her. In other cases it is the realization that he or she requires more than just a divine relationship to fully experience life. What you may have thought made a good friend today will likely change in a few years or may change after reading this. Whatever your reasons are for the types of friendships you choose know that it is not about the best qualities that make a good friend; it’s how they complete your character.

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These 21 Qualities Are Essential In Any Lifelong Friend

Here’s what sets your bestie apart from the rest.

When it comes to friendships, you are always going to be closer to some people than others. While many friends may fall into the “casual acquaintance” category, a special few sit comfortably within your inner circle of ride-or-die besties. There are plenty of unique qualities that set a truly good friend apart, but chances are, you’ve never taken a moment to sit and think about what those traits are exactly.

“Friendships can definitely be found on a continuum, with acquaintances on one side and your best friends on the other, with all different types of friendships in between,” Heidi McBain, licensed marriage and family therapist and author of Life Transitions: Personal Stories of Hope Through Life’s Most Difficult Challenges and Changes, tells Bustle. So, this begs the question: How does someone make the cut, so to speak, and become one of your closest friends?

The most important thing, as McBain explains, is that you feel like your best self around them. “There are many different ways [to tell if someone is a good friend], but a big one is that you feel completely comfortable with the other person,” she says. “You can truly be who you are without fear of judgment on their part. Plus, if this friendship truly benefits both of you — which the deepest friendships do — then your closest friends are able to be exactly who they are with you, as well.”

There are many characteristics that set close friends apart from the rest. To help identify the them, Bustle asked experts to weigh in on the essential qualities of a good friend.

They’re Trustworthy

Every relationship needs trust as a core quality, and friendships are no exception. “They’re trustworthy and genuine,” Jamie Gruman, Ph.D., professor of organizational behavior and author of Boost: The Science of Recharging Yourself in an Age of Unrelenting Demands, tells Bustle. “They offer us a sounding board to test ideas and show our true selves while knowing they won’t betray our confidences or make us feel ashamed of our weaknesses,” he says. “They offer us caring, honest feedback, even when it might hurt.” This creates a safe environment for both of you to discover yourselves and grow.

They’re Supportive

Supportive friends are a lifeline. “Good friends offer us various kinds of support, such as emotional support when we’re feeling insecure and information support when we need to know how to handle problems or deal with ambiguities,” Dr. Gruman says. “This gives us the reinforcement and encouragement we need to face life’s many demands and [helps to] prop us up when needed.”

Darlene Corbett, speaker, therapist, success coach, and author of Stop Depriving The World of You: A Guide For Getting Unstuck, agrees. “A good friend will go 150% to be there for you,” she tells Bustle. “Life is not always easy and fun, but a good friend will be available.”

They Accept You As You Are

You’re probably comfortable around your good friends because you can be yourself around them; with others, you may put up more of a front or feel less comfortable. “A good friend is someone who will unconditionally accept you as you are, but will never be afraid to tell you the unpleasant truth of a situation or your behavior,” Lisa Orban, author of It’ll Feel Better When It Quits Hurting, tells Bustle. “They are the mirror that keeps your life in focus when you’ve lost perspective.”

Corbett adds lack of judgment is a quality of a good friend. “Unless your friend commits an egregious crime, you should not judge them,” she says. “None of us leave this earth unscathed from doing something we would rather forget.”

They Actively Listen

Dating and relationship coach Varsha Mathur thinks so, too. “A good friend listens and shuts up,” she tells Bustle. “They’re a sounding board rather than a coach, and [they] won’t give you advice when all you’re looking for is someone to listen.”

They’re Emotionally Available

Just like a romantic partner should be emotionally available, good friends should be, too. “They make us feel heard and acknowledge us and our points of view,” Dr. Gruman says. “We feel listened to and appreciated as opposed to ignored or dismissed.” As a result, he says, this allows you to share your life with each other and feel connected, both of which combat loneliness and help you weather distressing circumstances. Even if your best friend doesn’t live nearby, you still maintain a close relationship with them.

They Have Similar Interests

Chances are, you and your good friends are a good fit because you have several things in common. “They are similar to us in terms of values, beliefs, and views about things that matter to us,” Dr. Gruman says. “Because our personalities and opinions are similar, it gives us a sense of belonging, which satisfies the fundamental human need to feel connected to others — we feel united, togetherness, and a sense of belonging.”

They Show Up During Tough Times

While it’s easy to be there for somebody during good times, it’s even more amazing to be there for them during the not-so-good periods of life. “Good friends show up for the tough times,” Mathur says. “They help clean up after the party, come to your parent’s funeral, and pick you up from that doctor’s appointment you’ve been dreading. All the fun memories are easy to make, but these critical times are the true test of a friendship.”

They’re Reciprocal

In any type of relationship, having a balance of give-and-take is important. “Good friendships have reciprocity so you’ll have a satisfying relationship, which is symbiotic,” Debbie Mandel, author of Addicted to Stress, tells Bustle. “Sometimes you carry the ball, and sometimes your friend does. If one side is doing all the giving, this relationship will tip over.”

Corbett agrees. “There are the takers and the givers in this world,” she says. “Sometimes one friend is giving far more than the other, and this is fine as long as the other party reciprocates at some point. If you are just giving and they are just taking, how good of a friend is that person?”

They Have Your Best Interest In Mind

Sometimes, you may feel as though your good friends know you better than you know yourself. They root for you even when you aren’t feeling like your own biggest fan. “Good friends can be your biggest cheerleaders and your greatest advocates,” McBain says. “They can also serve as accountability buddies, keeping you focused on what’s most important at that point in your life — even during the times when you may doubt yourself and your own self-worth.” Good friends will continually build you up, remind you how great you really are, and support you as you learn and grow throughout your life.

They Don’t Just Reach Out When They Need Something

You can probably think of people who contact you only when they are in need of something. However, with good friends, contact isn’t just a one-way street, according to Claudia Sigala, licensed psychotherapist at the mental health provider Alma.

“When emotional reciprocity is absent in a friendship, the relationship can feel one-sided, and a friend can start feeling like they do not matter and their needs are not important,” Sigala previously told Bustle. Both people in a friendship should feel valued and heard, but you may come across people who see your friendship as a constant support network for them, without giving much back to you. Reciprocity is a quality of a good friend; your bestie won’t see and use you simply as a means to an end, only ever asking things of you.

11 Qualities Of A Good Friend & Ways To Be An Even Better One

One of the most important and formative types of relationships you will experience in a lifetime is friendship. Friends are people you can share intimacies and experiences with, and you are an important part of each other’s lives. They give you a sense of belonging and security knowing you are loved and cherished by the people you most care for.

The beauty of friendship is that you get to choose your friends, unlike with family. But anyone who’s ever had a negative experience with someone they thought was a friend can probably attest to the fact that it isn’t always easy to spot true friendship. So we spoke with mental health experts Chaute Thompson, LMHC, and Jinnie Cristerna, LCSW, Rh.D., CHt, about what exactly makes someone a good friend and some tips on how to be a good friend yourself.

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What makes a good friend?

Honesty

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Of all the traits a good friend could have, honesty is certainly among the most important. An honest friend is someone who can and will tell you the truth instead of lying to you to keep you happy or placate you. A good friend will tell you the truth even if it’s hard, Cristerna says, because they love you.

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Being nonjudgmental

A nonjudgmental friend makes you feel confident in and loved for who you are and not someone who instills self-doubt or insecurity in you. Nonjudgmental friends listen to you and do their best to see things from your point of view.

Acceptance

True friends accept you even when your lives move in different directions. True friends understand that your choices are yours and accept those decisions because they know that what’s right for them isn’t necessarily right for you.

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Trustworthiness

Trust lets us feel safe with friends—safe to be vulnerable and to share our plans, our true selves, and our lives. A trustworthy friend keeps your secrets, keeps their promises, and is dependable.

Low-maintenance

Many longtime friends point to the fact that when they haven’t been in touch for a while and finally reconnect, it is as if no time has passed. In other words, friends shouldn’t require all of your attention all of the time and understand when life gets busy.

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Tips for how to be a good friend:

Prioritize making time for each other.

Free time is sacred because we don’t have much of it. At the same time, friendships grow through shared experiences and quality time together. The mark of a good friend is someone who makes time for you and makes spending time with you a priority. A good friend will also look for opportunities to maximize the time you have together by seeking fun and unique experiences that strengthen and maintain your bond.

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Open up and allow each other to be vulnerable.

A good friend is someone genuine, someone with whom you can be yourself and they can be themselves around you, Cristerna explains. A good friend allows you to be vulnerable with them and vice versa, meaning you can expose your emotions and circumstances with each other and trust one another to listen, be supportive, and have each other’s best interests at heart.

«Being able to have fun and share special memories are the result of having a trusting relationship that feels safe,» Cristerna adds. «For example, all of my friends and I have an understanding that we support one another in every way (yes, even ridiculous ways!), unless the level of ridiculousness is too much or would create a situation where we feel uncomfortable.»

Pay attention to the little things.

«A good friend is able to read between the lines of what’s being said because they pay attention, and they know your heart,» Thompson says. «For example, if I ask, ‘How are you doing?’ to a close friend and the response is ‘OK,’ I know immediately that she is not OK. A good friend pays attention to the details because you care to take the time to understand the heart of your friend.»

Be willing to challenge each other.

A good friend pushes you to grow, will let you know when you are on the wrong path, and will «challenge you when you need to be challenged,» says Thompson. And this is «all done in love and with respect.» In this way, you can grow together and support each other along the way.

«In a personal story, I was angry with someone, and one of my good friends stopped me midway through my rant and said, ‘Jinnie, you know you’re wrong. I am always with you, but on this one, I can’t ride with ya. Stop and think about the role you played in this.’ That moment stays with me to this day because she loved me enough to tell me to knock it off, and it came from a place of love. I was able to receive it because of that,» Cristerna explains. «That’s what friends do.»

But be open-minded.

To be a good friend, you have to be open-minded, says Thompson. Being open-minded allows your friend to be their true selves, especially when they are making decisions. By remaining open-minded and not inserting your own biases into your friend’s decision-making, you demonstrate that you are understanding and supportive.

«Good friends support us, give us space to be ourselves and make mistakes, and they respect boundaries,» Cristerna adds.

Look out for them.

«A good friend is a courageous friend who will stand up and do the right thing when no one is looking and even if it doesn’t benefit them. This may not be the type of definition most people have about courage, but trust me—it takes a lot of courage to do this,» Cristerna says.

For example, you might find yourself in situations where other people aren’t treating your friend well or where you know your friend may be put in a sticky situation. As much as possible, a good friend is willing to stick their neck out on behalf of their friends, whether that means shutting down gossip about them, making sure they get home safe after a night out, or something else.

What about bad friends?

Here are some signs of an unhealthy friendship, according to Thompson:

Friendship entails reciprocity and respect, Cristerna adds. Without these two qualities, the relationship will be limited and fizzle over time. When you are in what feels like a toxic friendship or codependent friendship, it is best to determine what is the healthiest way for you to end the friendship.

In communicating the need to end the friendship, you want to ensure that you own the decision and be clear about how the relationship does and doesn’t work for you. This is not the time to blame, however—in fact, this is a time to forgive and ask for forgiveness with grace and ease. Ending a friendship is already hard enough. Cristerna recommends trying to be compassionate, so if you cross paths again (and you usually do), you can say hello and catch up in a comfortable and natural way.

The bottom line.

A true friendship is defined by knowing someone has your back, no matter what. A good friend will watch out for you and ensure you are safe, feel supported, and are loved. A good friend will never purposely lead you into making decisions or taking actions that aren’t good for you. A true friend will always have your best interests at heart.

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Lia Miller, M.A., MPA, MSW, is an award-winning writer, foreign policy expert, and clinically trained social worker with emphasis on childhood and family dynamics. She has dual bachelor’s degrees with honors in Social Work and African American Studies, a master’s degree in Public Administration, and a master’s degree in International Relations from Syracuse University. She also has a master’s degree in Social Work from Columbia University. Her work has been featured in The Huffington Post, Blavity, Madame Noire, the Times Union, Heart & Soul Magazine, Griots Republic, and more.

Miller, known online as Lia World Traveler, is also a public speaker who regularly presents on panels and at workshops, conferences, and events nationally and internationally. She is also foreign service officer/diplomat and has worked extensively on issues across the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, and Latin America.

25 Qualities Of A Good Friend (The Ultimate List)

There’s a friend in mind as I write this. She’s more sister than friend. She’s more family than my blood siblings.

How I lucked onto such an amazing human being is beyond me, but I did, and it’s wonderful.

Not a day goes by that I’m not thankful we travel the cosmos together via this big, varied Earth.

This connection wasn’t simply pulled from the ether, nor does it maintain itself by sparkles and rainbows.

There are certain qualities that must be shared in order to form the bonds of good and true friendship.

1. They’re Kind

You’d think this was a given for any type of human interaction, but kindness is often overlooked.

We’ve likely experienced that “bend over backwards” kind of kindness that, to be honest, makes people a little uncomfortable.

The kindness of a good friend is more the “stand with you” variety. Rather than give you the shirt off their back, they’ll make sure that both of your needs are tended to so that there’s never a need for either of you to greet the world half naked.

2. They’re Honest

Another of the main qualities of a good friend is that they will let you know when they’re hurt by you, confused by you, see you being foolish, and can tell when you’re hiding.

A lot of people don’t want to do any of these. It’s easier for them to hide behind “I don’t want to hurt your feelings.”

Thing is, good friends share. Even pain. Discomfort enters everywhere in life; it’d be dishonest to pretend it avoids friendship altogether.

3. They’re Individual

A sense of identity creates amazing bonds. Good friends aren’t trying to become you, they’re fully-realized unto themselves.

Their sense of individuality plays off your own, and even enhances areas in both of you that may have gone unnoticed before.

And while dreams, goals, and temperaments are often similar, even the best symbiotic friendships know there are times when each individual must pull away to reflect and rejuvenate on their own.

4. They’re Adventurous

Boredom is the absence of stimulation, be it mental, emotional, or physical stimulation.

Good friends satisfy all three of those areas; they’re adventurous in that they like to do things, think things, feel things, and share in those things with you.

This doesn’t necessarily mean mountain climbing or bungee jumping; a trip to a new restaurant will do.

The desire and willingness to experience the world is an inseparable part of friendship because it says “take my hand and let’s see what’s out there!”

5. They’re Playful

If not for good friends, milk would never have snorted from your nose in junior high; you wouldn’t have half as many stories about the things you did in college; half of those stories wouldn’t involve nudity in one fashion or another, and today, as adults, there’s still a chance of liquids snorting from your nose. Except now it’s wine.

Friends play with us. They make us laugh at the most inopportune moments (devils) and catching a twinkle in their eyes is like the promise of Christmas morning.

The world pretends to be a serious place, but playtime stops it dead in its tracks every time.

6. They’re Protective

Jimi Hendrix was probably thinking about a good friend when he came up with the lyric, “I stand up next to a mountain, I chop it down with the edge of my hand.”

Good friends aren’t protective of you in a self-interested, possessive way; they’re protective of you, all the oddly shaped, precious, intrinsic bits that make up your traveling soul, because those are the bits that truly gravitationally attract us to bright, brilliant souls.

It is a mission they take upon themselves often without knowing they’ve done so, but they’ll do it from here to eternity, whether standing up to a mountain, shielding you from impending harm, or even at times protecting you from yourself.

7. They’re Trustworthy

There are people we trust only as far as we see them. Those don’t make good friends.

Then there are those whom we’d place everything that makes us “us” into an egg, give it to them, and allow them to race on pogo sticks across a booby-trapped, rubble-strewn field while we sip lemonade during the wait for them to return it.

We trust our good friends to be good people. If not: splat.

8. They’re Nurturing

Yes, a good friend holds your hair aside for you while you perform the gutbucket serenade, but she also makes sure you’re eating enough, getting enough rest, sinking into bubble baths at least once a month, and listening wide-eyed as you recount to her your latest achievement or newfound goal.

Good friends become friends, parents, lovers, doctors, and confidants all in one without it ever seeming squicky or difficult.

9. They Listen

Compassion and empathy combine to make our good friends excellent listeners because, honestly, who wants to project “Me, me, me” all the time at anyone?

It’s good to be silent and allow our friends to fill us with themselves, as they do with us.

Another key characteristic of a good friend is that they listen to your hopes, fears, questions, dreams, foolishness, musings, prattlings, and more, not out of obligation, but because they genuinely care.

10. They’re Helpful

A good friend has your back. Not in a pinch. Always.

If you’re tired, they take on your load. If you need help figuring something out, they’re your research partners. They neither tally nor begrudge, and if one task is done and you need them for more, they have no problem being there. Period.

11. They Have Clairvoyance

Perhaps not Stephen King-level clairvoyance (couldn’t hurt though), but good friends often seem to know what you need before you need it.

Miraculously, they call at just that point during your work day from hell when you’re about to fling staplers like throwing stars, then immediately you’re calm enough for one more meeting before quitting time.

Is this merely a function of knowing your moods and routines, or is a deeper connection at play? The fun in certain mysteries is in not even trying to figure them out.

12. They’re Optimistic But Practical

“Laissez les bons temps rouler!” – Let the good times roll – is the rallying cry of friends everywhere, but it’s one that a good friend tempers with the knowledge that impermanence is part of life.

Good times end, or sometimes have to wait, but that doesn’t stop the joy of having a friend live in your heart one bit.

13. They’re Respectful

Respectful of you, respectful of your time, respectful of your right to make mistakes: these are hallmarks of someone worthy of being allowed into your life.

Respectful of the things you love, the things you fear, the things you avoid. Without respect, friendship slips into becoming just another of narcissism’s mirrors: you see the other as little more than an extension of you until they’re no longer useful.

14. They’re Fearlessly Huggable

Hugs are so necessary in this life. A good friend is one who hugged you yesterday, the day before, and sees no reason why they wouldn’t today.

Everyone’s frequency varies, but living as though there’s no rule against serial hugging tends to be a win-win scenario.

15. They’re Open-Hearted

Friendship is like an extreme sport of soul-to-soul connectivity: we’re slamming about on this Earth never knowing where we’ll bounce or who these people we bounce off of are. Extreme humaning.

It takes guts to open yourself to someone who feels as randomly placed on a planet as you do. But good friends do this. They open their hearts, bare their souls, and leave space for you to tuck away a piece of yourself in there for safekeeping.

It’s a long journey, this extreme humaning; good friends not only make the trip bearable, they transform it into a rowdy, wild, absolute delight.

16. You Can Be Your Real Self Around Them

One of the often overlooked characteristics of a good friend is that they are accepting of who you are – the good, the bad and the ugly. Because of this, you feel totally comfortable around them and can let every little aspect of your personality out.

Whether it’s the way you do a little dance when you’re happy or the impulsive nature of your drunken self, you don’t feel the need to hold back when you’re in their company.

17. You Can Sit In Silence Without Awkwardness

Following on from the ability to be yourself, another good sign of a deep friendship is your ability to share a moment or period of silence together. When a friendship is more superficial, silence is often deafening and tense, which makes it something to avoid.

I always think a good test of friendship is living together (or perhaps going on holiday together). When you spend enough time in each other’s company, there are bound to be bouts of silence and how you feel during these is an indicator of how close you are.

18. You Are Genuinely Happy For Each Other When Good Things Happen

When you see someone who has what you want, the instinctive feeling is one of envy; this holds true for most superficial friendships.

When that person is a true friend, however, you are deeply happy for them and you don’t begrudge their fortune. If they find love, you want to meet the new person in their life; if they have success in their career, you want to hear all the details; and if they buy a nice house, you can’t wait to go and visit them in it.

If you find yourself wishing you were in their shoes, or believing that they get all the luck, then they probably aren’t one of your closest friends.

19. The Conversation Goes Beyond Small Talk And “Catching Up”

In certain company, you will feel obliged to keep the conversations light and avoid discussions that may hit personal barriers or shine a light on differences of opinions.

Another of the main qualities of a good friend, however, is that you can talk about almost anything you like. You don’t just meet up to discuss what you’ve both been up to or what you think of the latest TV show; the topic of conversation goes a lot deeper than that.

You can talk about the bigger things in life; your dreams, your fears, religion, politics, the meaning of existence. Debates are not uncommon, and they can even get a little heated, but your conversations are most certainly not drab.

20. They Confront You If You Are Self Sabotaging

Because a real friendship is one in which you can communicate on the deepest of levels and one that embodies trust in the fullest sense, a friend will always seek to prevent you from causing yourself harm.

They are the ones who know you well enough to notice when you’re not acting yourself. They see when you’re drinking too much, not eating enough, taking reckless risks with your safety and wellbeing, jeopardizing your career, or doing something else that you’ll later regret.

As hard as it might be for them to confront you about such things, it’s a sign of a real friend that they would find it even harder to sit back and watch you capitulate.

21. They Will Encourage Rather Than Disparage You For Trying New Things

Your hobbies, tastes, and opinions are bound to change over time and your friends will, no doubt, have something to say about it.

Those who question you for trying new things; the people who laugh at the very prospect; they are not truly your friends.

A real friend will be supportive of you and your growth as a person. Whether you are learning to salsa, volunteering for a charity in your spare time, or exploring your spiritual side, they will wholeheartedly encourage you to go for it.

And should you change your mind later on in time, they won’t be the ones saying ‘I told you so’, they will be the ones who congratulate you for giving it your best shot.

22. They Will Forgive You For (Almost) Anything

One of the most important qualities of a good friend is that they will do everything they can to forgive you when you do wrong by them. They will try to understand the reasons you acted as you did, they will talk to you about it, and they will try and help you resolve any troubles you may be facing.

That’s not to say that they will let you get away with absolutely anything. It is possible to destroy friendships with a single act, no matter how true and deep they are.

They may well forgive you for what you have done even if they decide that it is best to part ways.

23. You Are Genuinely Excited To See Them

Have you ever arranged to meet up with a so-called friend, but secretly hoped that they would cancel? If so, it’s likely that you don’t really count them as one of your close friends.

When you plan to see a real friend, on the other hand, you get mentally and physically excited by the prospect. And if they have to cancel for any reason, you feel bitterly disappointed by it.

24. You Don’t Feel Guilty About Turning Down An Invitation From Them

As strange as it may sound, if you’re feeling a sense of guilt when you don’t want to go to a friend’s event, you may not be as close as you think.

Chances are that you’ll be worried how they may take your rejection and what they’ll think of you because of it. You suspect that they may begrudge you or find some sort of insult in it and this is what will cause the guilty feelings. It may even push you into doing things that you’d rather not do – hardly a trait of friendship.

Conversely, when a true friend invites you to something and you feel the need to decline, there is always a sense that they will understand unconditionally. You know, deep down, that they won’t hold it against you or feel any differently about you or your friendship.

25. You Feel Comfortable Enough To Ask Them A Favor

Relating closely back to the point on someone’s willingness to help, if you would be happy to ask someone for a favor, there’s every chance you consider that person a close friend.

This is because you are confident that they will do whatever they can to assist you and because should they not be able to help, you won’t take it as a rejection. If you ask a more casual acquaintance for a favor and they say no, you may well be left wondering what their reasons are.

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