Two thousand years ago, Aristotle made a fascinating observation about humans: People are social creatures. This central truth about human existence tells us that cooperation is the backbone of society.
We see this fact expressed at a fundamental level. For example, we need farmers for food and doctors for healthy living.
But what makes human society work is not just the cooperation of all its members to get things done, but also their ability to build bonds of friendship with each other.
This fact is even more important than you think. Research shows that strong social connections boost our health and well-being, help us succeed in careers, make us more resilient in times of stress, and generally increase our quality of life.
Since friendships are so meaningful, how can you build stronger bonds with anyone?
Try these tips:
- Remain positive and express politeness. When you speak, do so in a manner that considers the feelings of others. Consider your words before you talk. And don’t feel so proud that you refuse to apologize when you say something you did not intend.
- Make honesty and sincerity a driving factor. A strong relationship is a product of deep trust and respect for each other. You will build a good relationship when you tell others the truth and they feel they can trust your words.
- Avoid hiding your vulnerabilities. Many people are cautious about displaying their weaknesses to others. But such caution leads to a false sense of invincibility. By sharing your fears, concerns, and uncertainties with another person, you build an even stronger bond.
- Be open-minded. A good friend understands that his views are not the only views that exist. He respects the opinions of others and is willing to change his view when he realizes that he has a flawed original understanding.
- Look for common ground. A good friend recognizes that they are part of a much larger community. This larger community may include people of different religions, cultures, and races. Good friends look for the common ground between their views and others, even if they disagree.
– Rather than fight over an issue, they explore areas where compromise is possible and make this compromise a central component of building their relationship.
- Go beyond the golden rule. The golden rule states that you should treat others as you want them to treat you. This rule captures much of what a good friend does: You think about how the other person feels and acts from this awareness.
– But the golden rule falls short because it doesn’t consider that different people have different preferences and needs.
– Therefore, a good friend goes beyond the golden rule and considers each person’s preferences and needs.
- Remind your friend via text of a memory that makes you laugh. An unexpected laugh does much to improve a person’s mental health. Sometimes, you and a close friend can become distant because of the busyness and distractions of life.
– When you share a funny memory, you reconnect and make the friendship more authentic.
- Plan your next time together. A good friend looks for ways to spend time without making it about the relationship. This act can take the form of planning a weekend trip, attending a sporting event, or grabbing coffee.
- Share your current goals with your friends. Sharing your dreams can be a motivating factor for one or both of you. You may convey an intent because you need help, but you might also do so to boost the overall quality of your relationship.
– It is not always about what you want. It is about getting what you need from each other.
- Talk about the new events in your life. People love the news. It’s always more interesting to listen to new things than rehash the old. Talking about your recent experiences can make you feel inspired and bring you and your friend closer. It’s an excellent way to refresh the bond.
No matter who you are, we’re all in this together. We all need friends, and there’s no way to get them by doing nothing for them. If your life seems like it needs a jumpstart, then create a plan to do something meaningful with someone that you care about, and you’ll start feeling better right away.