How to Learn to Make Friends
Making friends is an important part of a person's social experience. The skills to do so are learned over time in such a gradual manner that many people are hard-pressed to actually explain the process. Babies learn how to attract the affections of others from early on, starting with returning smiles and cooing to people who do the same. Think back to the lessons on politeness that you received as a child, such as being told to return a greeting when given one, to answer questions about your name and age and to use "please" and "thank you." They were lessons on making friends. If you missed out on these lessons or cannot remember them, it is not too late to learn how to make friends.
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Instructions
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Watch others. People-watching is an exercise that can help you gather a lot from human behavior. Go to a mall or public park and gaze at people interacting with each other. Don't stare or ogle, but relax and let your eyes glance around at the people in the area. This step works best in larger urban areas where there are many people to observe. Look at the many ways people come in contact with one another. Consider which ones may create lasting relationships, including friendships and which will remain a casual, one-time meeting.
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Learn some conversation starters. Make the first step to friendship using an icebreaker. Ice breakers can get a conversation started between yourself and your potential friend. A few icebreaker questions include: What goal would you like to accomplish during your lifetime? Who is your hero? What are your favorite hobbies?
While interacting, remember your people-watching research on body language and personal space negotiation to keep the conversation productive.
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Contact a social anxiety support group near you to learn how to make friends despite any social or mental conditions that may impair your friendship-making abilities. The groups are a great way to meet others just like yourself while learning how to make friends in other areas of your life.
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References
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- Photo Credit friends image by Renata Osinska from Fotolia.com
