U.S. culture is a society of increasing isolation and self-sufficiency. Because of technology, it has become increasingly easy and desirable to spend time on your own, visiting social networking sites, gaming online and sending texts instead of connecting with another person. But technology never takes the place of making friends and creating lasting human relationships that you can rely on. If you lack friendship in your life, you can make friends by making yourself available to connections and taking the initiative to forge relationships.
Step 1
Join a group or take a class with others who have similar interests, suggests author and relationship expert Karen Karbo in Psychology Today. If you love taking pictures, try a beginner's photography class. Learn a foreign language or join a book club. Meet-up sites have groups and events that have open enrollment. By actively searching for groups of people who have interests that are similar to your own, you can create relationships.
Step 2
Look around you and reconsider some of your current relationships. You might only have a passing acquaintance with the man who lives in your apartment building, but you could become friends if you struck up a conversation on the elevator. Your coworker could be a fun addition to happy hour on Friday nights. Elderly neighbors can be a wealth of stories and good company. You might have the makings for a loyal and satisfying circle of friends right in front of you without realizing it.
Step 3
Take the initiative to walk up and say hello to someone new, urges MentalHelp.net. If you never put yourself out there to be received as a new friend, you can't expect to have many friends effortlessly. You might be surprised at how easy it is to make friends with a smile, a simple comment on the weather or an invitation to a ball game. You could find that most other humans are looking for connections in the same manner you are, and they are willing to take a chance and spend time with someone new.
Step 4
Throw a party or event and invite at least five new people to spend time with you. If you've been wanting to meet the new family on the block, it's a good time to introduce yourself and allow friendships to develop with others around you, according to an article in Reader's Digest. Plan a simple gathering with food and conversation to see how quickly the walls of discomfort and embarrassment are broken when in a safe and casual environment. Make parties and get-togethers a regular part of your social life to expand your social circle and make friends easily.
Member Comments