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What are the qualities of a good friend?
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Mar 21, 2024 · A really good friend - one you hold dear to your heart - brings these fantastic qualities into your life. Look for these in your friends.
- A. Morningstar
- They live with integrity. A friend with integrity acts in alignment with their values and commitments. They have strong moral principles and will speak or act when someone violates these principles.
- You can trust them. A good close friend is honest and speaks from the heart with good intentions. They tell you what you need to hear in a respectful and loving manner, so it doesn’t feel hurtful.
- “Dependability” is their middle name. There’s no time for fair-weather and flaky friends. A good friend respects this, trying their best to show up, keep promises, and do what they say they’ll do.
- They’re loyal. While blind loyalty is never great, since it might cause you to overlook red flags and toxic traits, great friends are generally loyal to their people — unless these people aren’t great friends back.
To summarize the qualities of a good friend, I have highlighted several key traits that are essential for building strong and meaningful friendships. These qualities serve as a foundation for nurturing healthy relationships and creating lasting bonds.
- They’re Trustworthy. Every relationship needs trust as a core quality, and friendships are no exception. “They’re trustworthy and genuine,” Jamie Gruman, Ph.D., professor of organizational behavior and author of Boost: The Science of Recharging Yourself in an Age of Unrelenting Demands, tells Bustle.
- They’re Supportive. Supportive friends are a lifeline. “Good friends offer us various kinds of support, such as emotional support when we’re feeling insecure and information support when we need to know how to handle problems or deal with ambiguities,” Dr. Gruman says.
- They Accept You As You Are. You’re probably comfortable around your good friends because you can be yourself around them; with others, you may put up more of a front or feel less comfortable.
- They Actively Listen. While any friend may listen to what you have to say, a great friend actively listens and engages with you. “A good friend ... asks questions and truly listens to the answers,” Susan MacTavish Best, friendship expert and founder of lifestyle site Living MacTavish, tells Bustle.
- You like being around them. First things first: You will like being around a truly good friend. That may seem obvious, but you'd be surprised how many people don't actually realize they feel bad around certain people.
- They boost you up. Good friends support you and lift you up when you're down, with Page noting they can be our biggest champions. And as Leeds says, "A good friend is also someone who is committed to their own growth and encourages growth in you," adding that they won't feel jealous or competitive with you, and they'll inspire you to be the fullest version of yourself.
- They're there for you. When the going gets tough, good friends get going. Just like our romantic relationships require effort, maintenance, and care, so, too, do our friendships.
- They share in your happiness and pain. The best friends in our lives are the ones who can celebrate our wins with us but also share in our pain. Page says you know you've got a good friend when you accomplish something and can tell your friend is truly happy for you.
Mar 31, 2023 · But you should make sure your friend has the qualities of a good friend: someone who is always there for you; someone who is your biggest supporter; someone who sees you, accepts you for all you are – the good, the bad, and the ugly – and still wants to be around.
Mar 23, 2015 · These qualities, represented by the traits listed as numbers 6 to 10 above, include empathy, the ability to withhold judgment, effective listening skills, and the ability to offer support in...
