Eight Ways to be a Better Friend

Being a good friend is a skill we can learn and improve upon. Here, eight ways to be a better friend.

Number One: Like yourself

The first step in having a good relationship with a friend is to have a good relationship with yourself. When we genuinely like ourselves, we become more attractive to other people. We have more to offer others because we are not constantly focused on our own image and reputation.

We become better friends because we don't cling. We are secure enough to spend time with a friend because we want to, not because we need to.

Number Two: Choose wisely

Relationships among true friends take a steady dose of time and energy--two resources in limited supply for all of us. Identify the friends with whom you wish to create a closer bond. It's perfectly okay if not all of your acquaintances make the list. The closeness of your connections is far more important than the length of your guest lists.

Number Three: Make the time

Friends are important in many ways--so much so that these relationships often take on a life of their own. You owe it to yourself (and to your friends) to make these relationships a priority. Carve out some quality time for one another.

Number Four: Make the first move

If you want to improve your relationships, put your fear of rejection aside and start taking more risks. Invite your friends to lunch. Organize a new playgroup. Invite them over for dinner.

Too often, we fail to follow up with our friends. Don't miss out-just make the first phone call. Your friends are just as anxious to get together as you are.

Number Five: The Golden Rule

Treat your friends as you wish to be treated. Stated another way: "To have a friend, be a friend."

Focus more on being interested than on being interesting. Be enthusiastic and energetic. Avoid complaining, gossiping, and criticizing.

Number Six: Sweat the Small Stuff

Make your friends feel significant by remembering small kindnesses. Notice her new haircut. Remember to ask about her mother-in-law's surgery. Send flowers or a simple email when you know she needs it most.

Number Seven: Listen

Good listeners are hard to find, and honing your skills can be a long-term project.

A few tips:

-Slow down. Try not to finish your friend's sentences. If you catch yourself planning your response while your friend is still talking, gently remind yourself to focus on the speaker.

-Show her you are listening. Maintain eye contact. Offer nods and murmurs that indicate you understand her point of view.

-Minimize distractions.

-Ask questions.

-Be careful with advice. Assume your friend wants to vent her frustrations, not ask you for a plan of action.

Number Eight: Be loyal

We all need someone in our corner. If your friend isn't there to defend herself against gossip or criticism, speak up, and know she would do the same for you.

Very well said....

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Mein woh hoon jo kisi ne kaha:
HAM NAGHMA SARA KUCH GHAZLON KE HAM SOORAT GAR KUCH KHWAABON KE
BE JAZBA E SHOQ SUNAYEN KIYA KOI KHWAAB NA HO TO BATAYEN KIYA

To have a friend, be a friend, very nicely said.

1. Listening to others help in building confidence, trust and strengthening yr relations.
It is NOT necessary that one can solve or help in meeting the needs of other friend, but by listening you can minimise the level of misery/tension and feeling that your friend is not alone facing.

2. No objections or rejection of ideas

3. Minimum expectations - when one start expecting any benefit, both friends may not continue for long

4. Mutual respect in presence and in absence.

5. Greeting with smile on each meeting

6. No competition and NO complex. Inferiority OR Superiority
Friendhip continues on equal level.

7. Presenting gifts or inviting YES if convenient. But a friend can not afford, because he might think that money I spent on gift or meal better to meet family needs first. Convey your best wishes on any occassion through telephone call or personal meeting or Emails like on birth days, Eid, marriages in family or condolences in time.

8. NEVER bring a topic which your friend does NOT like. or is irritated.

9. Tell your friend some thing you did not like, so that he will not repeat, if he is yr friend.
If you will just keep with you and yr friend may keep repeating as his/her habbit may loose you one day. Better tell in beginning to avoid distance or loosing.

Last edited by M Ashraf Siddiqui on Mon Aug 13, 2007 2:44 pm; edited 1 time in total

Thanks both of you...Allah Bless you....

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Mein woh hoon jo kisi ne kaha:
HAM NAGHMA SARA KUCH GHAZLON KE HAM SOORAT GAR KUCH KHWAABON KE
BE JAZBA E SHOQ SUNAYEN KIYA KOI KHWAAB NA HO TO BATAYEN KIYA

Hmm, Good suggestions to be or have a good friend. But question is that how many follow those steps..... Rolling Eyes

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Sorry for my poor english!

Quote:

Being a good friend is a skill we can learn and improve upon. Here, eight ways to be a better friend.

Number One: Like yourself

The first step in having a good relationship with a friend is to have a good relationship with yourself. When we genuinely like ourselves, we become more attractive to other people. We have more to offer others because we are not constantly focused on our own image and reputation.

We become better friends because we don't cling. We are secure enough to spend time with a friend because we want to, not because we need to.

Number Two: Choose wisely

Relationships among true friends take a steady dose of time and energy--two resources in limited supply for all of us. Identify the friends with whom you wish to create a closer bond. It's perfectly okay if not all of your acquaintances make the list. The closeness of your connections is far more important than the length of your guest lists.
Number Three: Make the time

Friends are important in many ways--so much so that these relationships often take on a life of their own. You owe it to yourself (and to your friends) to make these relationships a priority. Carve out some quality time for one another.

Number Four: Make the first move

If you want to improve your relationships, put your fear of rejection aside and start taking more risks. Invite your friends to lunch. Organize a new playgroup. Invite them over for dinner.

Too often, we fail to follow up with our friends. Don't miss out-just make the first phone call. Your friends are just as anxious to get together as you are.

Number Five: The Golden Rule

Treat your friends as you wish to be treated. Stated another way: "To have a friend, be a friend."

Focus more on being interested than on being interesting. Be enthusiastic and energetic. Avoid complaining, gossiping, and criticizing.

Number Six: Sweat the Small Stuff

Make your friends feel significant by remembering small kindnesses. Notice her new haircut. Remember to ask about her mother-in-law's surgery. Send flowers or a simple email when you know she needs it most.

Number Seven: Listen

Good listeners are hard to find, and honing your skills can be a long-term project.

A few tips:

-Slow down. Try not to finish your friend's sentences. If you catch yourself planning your response while your friend is still talking, gently remind yourself to focus on the speaker.

-Show her you are listening. Maintain eye contact. Offer nods and murmurs that indicate you understand her point of view.

-Minimize distractions.

-Ask questions.

-Be careful with advice. Assume your friend wants to vent her frustrations, not ask you for a plan of action.

Number Eight: Be loyal

We all need someone in our corner. If your friend isn't there to defend herself against gossip or criticism, speak up, and know she would do the same for you

nice thread even if iam late
thanks Wink

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so ture...nice info..

thnx for sharing..

Dosti is all giving like love,,,

Frienship is the hardest thing to explain in life.It is something you will not learn at school.Never try to prove your friendship,friendship proves it self with the passage of a time.You have to be caring in friendship & also knowing the meaning of friendship.It is not something which you will learn at school and if you haven,t learn the meaning of friendship,you haven,t learn anything in life.So if you make new friends you should not forget the old ones.Because old are gold & new are silver.

there is just one way 2 b a good friend,,,SINCERITY

beauty needs no arguments & freindship has no ruleS. Smile

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	iqbal wrote:
	beauty needs no arguments & freindship has no ruleS.

yeah friendship has not rules

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NO,,,,,everything follows certain rules,,,friendship has its own rules and the first and foremost is SINCERITY

	urfi67 wrote:
	NO,,,,,everything follows certain rules,,,friendship has its own rules and the first and foremost is SINCERITY

In friendship here is only one rule that is here is no any rule !!!

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even jungle has a rule,,,and ur talking abt friendship with no rules,,,aap friendship ko samajti hi nahi ho

hmm srry but i agree wid Riya...cus i think frndship wid rules make it formal..while frndship should be casual widout any formalties and rules...

	mystery-girl wrote:
	hmm srry but i agree wid Riya...cus i think frndship wid rules make it formal..while frndship should be casual widout any formalties and rules...

yeah That's it !!!

now urfi i think u got ur answer !!!

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even that casualness has certain rules,,,,,of one rule is sincerity,next,,,u dont have 2 careful with ur friends,,,next,,,no formalities,,,next khul kar baat karni hai,,,next ,,,overlook mistakes of ur friends,,,and many more,,,,kuch palay para ya ??????????

mery tou nahin parh Riya se umeed nahin hai... Laughing

mys-girl ur rite,,,Riya ka palay yae batain nahi parain gi,,,inn baton ka level thora ooncha hai

	urfi67 wrote:
	mys-girl ur rite,,,Riya ka palay yae batain nahi parain gi,,,inn baton ka level thora ooncha hai

mera level to mujhe pata hai lekin aap ka level kia hai kia aap yeh jante ho ?

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aap ka level Laughing

	urfi67 wrote:
	aap ka level

pata hai aap brush karte ho now don't show ur teeth Wink

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teeth iss liya show kar raha hoon kay dost aap bhi hanso,,,khush raho koi bill nahi ayai ga

	urfi67 wrote:
	teeth iss liya show kar raha hoon kay dost aap bhi hanso,,,khush raho koi bill nahi ayai ga

kia pata baad main aap bil baijh do ke itna ho gaya hai to phir main kia karon !!!!

i m not so much rich so i can't afford it Wink

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