As children and teens, most people make friends without even trying. But as you grow older and work, family and home become your priorities, it becomes harder to meet like-minded people and pursue meaningful friendships. The people you meet and interact with every day are probably much more interested in friendship than you might think. To make friends quickly, surround yourself with people who share common ground and be willing to put yourself out there in the name of lasting friendship.
Step 1
Pursue your interests in a social setting by taking a class, participating in a discussion group, joining a recreational sports team or volunteering for a cause you care about. You'll automatically be surrounded by people who share your interests, and you'll have an obvious topic to discuss when talking to someone new. Try striking up a casual conversation with a few friendly faces in your group or look for other individuals who don't seem to know anyone else in the class.
Step 2
Ask a friend to invite some of her other friends along next time you meet for lunch or head to the movies. If your friend likes them, you're likely to get along with them as well. Plus your friend can help to ease the awkwardness of conversing with someone new. Don't be afraid to tell your friend that you're trying to expand your social circle, and ask her to choose people she thinks you're likely to hit it off with.
Step 3
Turn an acquaintance into a friend. Invite your coworker to join you during your lunch break or ask the woman in your aerobics class where she got her sneakers. Such simple acts open up an avenue for conversation that help you get to know each other and see what else you have in common. If the other person seems receptive, make a point of talking to her every time you see her in your common setting until you feel comfortable enough to ask if she'd like to get together outside of work or the gym.
Step 4
Be receptive to other people who might be trying to strike up a friendship with you. Instead of dismissing casual compliments, turn them into brief conversations; accept invitations to dinners and parties, even when they don't sound appealing; and treat every person you meet like he could be your next best friend, even if he at first seems like your opposite.
Tips and Warnings
- Use the Internet's vast resources to help you make friends. You can find a local group for virtually any interest imaginable simply by typing your town and your interest into a search engine, or try a website like Meetup.com
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