Forming new connections with people can be nerve-wracking, but it’s well worth it. Friends, after all, play an important role in all our lives. They are the ones who accompany us through life, sharing our pleasures and sorrows. Life would be very different without friends. Without them, we wouldn’t be who we are.
If you want to build new friendships, you first need to figure out what kind of friends you desire. Friends can be classified into three categories:
Acquaintances- are friends that you relate with as necessitated by situations such as work or academics. You say hello when you pass by each other and goodbye when the day is done. When the setting is changed, such friendship does not endure.
Standard Friendships- these are your everyday friends that you gist with and share drinks with. But best friends are those with whom you can discuss any topic.
It doesn’t matter if you don’t see each other every day; the quality of your friendship isn’t premised on how often you see each other. These are the friends you can count on to be there for you no matter what, and they will go above and beyond to help you.
Notwithstanding the type of friendship you are looking to build, here are some tips to guide you in the process.
1. Recognize That You Have Nothing To Fear
The first stage is to cultivate a positive mindset towards interacting with people. Meeting new people can be a frightening experience for some, because it gets us worked up about the kind of impression we will make on the person, worried if the other person will like us, and how to keep the discussion going, among other things.
The more we consider it, the more terrifying it appears. This initial anxiety grows into a mental fear that takes on a life of its own and unintentionally prevents us from establishing new relationships. Fear is the source of timidity toward others.
Mostly all our fears are merely in our head because when you think about it, the larger percentage of individuals are preoccupied with their concerns about these issues. While you’re concerned about making a good first impression, they’re concerned about making a good first impression too.
2. Begin With Familiar People
Meeting a large group of new people can be scary if you haven’t been mingling much, in which case you can start small. Start with your circle of friends, or people you are comfortable with, to make the work easier.
Make contact with people you know- if you have old friends that you have said goodbye to or those you have lost touch with, send a text message saying hello and inquire if they would mind meeting up with you.
Make an effort to go out there- after you’ve reconnected with your old pals, the next stage is to meet new individuals.
3. Participate In Friends Clubs
There are many types of interest groups, such as those for businessmen and women, freelance writers, vegetarians, cyclists, and so on. Make a list of your passions and join the groups that interest you.
Meetups are frequently organized every month, depending on the group. It’s a great method to meet a lot of new people in a short amount of time.
4. Participate In Workshops And Courses
This is a gathering point for people who share similar interests and could very well serve as a place where you can meet a potential best friend for life.
5. Take The First Step
Someone has to make the initial move once you’re out there with other people. If the other person does not initiate a conversation, take the initiative and say hi. Give the other participant a chance to tell you about himself or herself after you’ve shared something about yourself. It will be easier to connect once the ice has been broken.
6. Don’t Be Prejudiced
You could have a preconceived image of the type of friend you seek, perhaps someone who understands, listens, shares similar interests, watches comparable films, has an identical academic background, and so on.
But on meeting the individual and discovering that he or she is not what you expected, you immediately write off the relationship. Doing that would be a wrong move, instead, allow time for the bond to grow and above all make a conscious choice to go with this developing bond.
7. Make Genuine Connections
We are often so preoccupied with the problems that we overlook the very idea of friendship. You can focus on components of your appearance such as how you are perceived, your content, and how you disseminate it, but don’t get too caught up in them.
Friendship isn’t defined by these characteristics, but the bond formed between you and your friend is what constitutes friendship. Also ensure that anyone that comes in contact with you feels welcome, loved, and respected.
Furthermore, make decisions because you want to, not because you feel obligated to and take care of them as if they were you. Engaging others with sincerity will captivate others to want to learn more about you.
8. Purposely Keep In Touch
At the end of the day, maintaining a friendship requires constant effort. Great friends distinguish themselves from hi-bye buddies by their willingness to put in the required commitment.
Once in a while, invite your friends out. It may not be necessary to meet every few days or once a week, depending on the strength of the friendship; catching up once a month or every few months may suffice. The frequency with which you meet does not indicate the strength of your connection.
