If you want to make friends, you first need to put yourself out there. You don’t necessarily have to have a lot of common interests with people in order to make friends. Having something in common with people can make it a lot easier to start a conversation and plan activities together but it’s not the deciding factor.
Make friends online. There are lots of community network websites such as Myspace, Facebook, Friendster, etc. You can join any group or just start your own. Try volunteering. This is a good way for people of all ages to meet others who have a passion for changing things the way you do, a common cause.
Talk to people. If you expect people to talk to you, think twice. Speak to people every chance you have being in a club, school, or church, the person in front of you waiting in line, or the person sitting next to you on the bus.
Initiate a get-together. You can chat your heart out but it won’t get you a friend if you don’t open up the opportunity for another conversation or meeting. This is especially important if you meet someone who you are not otherwise likely to meet again. Seize the day!
Be a good friend. Once you’ve started spending time with potential friends, remember to do your part such as initiating some of the activities, remembering birthdays, asking how the other person is feeling, greet them during holidays.
Be a good listener. This is the ability to show that you’re interested in others. Listen carefully to what people say, remember essential details about them such as their names, their likes and dislikes, ask questions about their interests, and just take the time to learn more about them.
Be a reliable friend. If you and your friend agree to meet somewhere, don’t be late, and do not stand up. When you say you’ll do something, do it. Be someone that people know that they can count on. Part of being a friend is being prepared to make sacrifices of your time and energy in order to help out your friends.
Be trustworthy. One of the best things about having a friend is that you have someone to whom you can talk about anything. The key to being a good confidante is the ability to keep secrets, so it’s no secret that you shouldn’t tell other people things that were told to you in confidence. Before people even feel comfortable opening up to you, you need to built trust.
Choose your friends wisely. As you make friends with more people, some are easier to get along with than others. While you always give people the benefit of the doubt, sometimes you realize that certain friendships are bad for you. Value those friends that are positive influences in your life, and do your best to be a positive influence in theirs.
Read More: 
Tags: 
