Making good Friends a Conscious Decision

Who you are as a friend will decide who you attract as a friend. You should intentionally work on yourself in order to be a better friend to your friends, just as much as you should intentionally work on making good friends. It is important to remember that friendships require more than merely waiting for benefits; all participants should have something to offer. It is impossible to uphold the morals and expectations of a healthy friendship if all you do is take from others all the time.

Although you should realize that you cannot reap what you have not sown, it is true that you will gain from your buddies. Make an effort to give something of yourself before expecting anything in return from others. When all sides of a friendship are dedicated to its success, it can be quite attractive. You should make an effort to surround yourself with like-minded individuals when you are developing yourself in a particular way. That is, your friends should impact you without directly influencing you; rather, they should be an extension of who you are. If there are people whose personalities you find objectionable, you should avoid being best friends with them so they won't negatively alter you.

Your buddies should complement you; if not, you shouldn't be hanging out with them. Positive additions might include guidance, attitude, character, charisma, and more in addition to tangible items. You don't need someone to tell you that certain people aren't supposed to be your pals if you realize that your life isn't improving after spending time with them.

The fact is that just because someone isn't your buddy doesn't necessarily indicate that they've turned evil or are your adversary. It's possible that your beliefs, points of view, and other views are just incompatible, in which case it would be preferable to remain acquaintances rather than friends.