Making and Keeping Friends: Resolving Problems in Relationships

Because each situation is different, you will have to use your resourcefulness, along with good communication skills and other strategies, to decide what to do and what action to take each time a difficult situation comes up or you become aware of a difference that is keeping your friendship from being a good one. Some things you can do include:

• talk with the other person using "I...

Making and Keeping Friends: Establishing and Honoring Boundaries

Feelings inside of you (intuition) let you know who you do and don't want to be close to. Sometimes you may want to be close to a person but are confused by questions of boundaries. You may ask yourself questions like "Have I called too much this week?" "Have I stayed too long; should I leave now?" "Should I offer to help her with the children or would she be uncomfortable with that?" It's appr...

Makeing and Keeping Friends: Building Skills that Enhance Friendships

Everyone brings special qualities friendships—qualities that make friendships richer and stronger. The following is a list of some of these qualities:

• being independent and self-sufficient
• being positive, upbeat, and warm
• talking about others in a positive way
• being honest and dependable
• doing your share of both the talking and listening...

Friends Are Good for Your Health

Everybody needs friends, but not everybody knows how to make friends and keep them. Demands from job and family can leave many people with little energy for bringing new people into their lives or for nurturing the relationships they already have. But friends are important to your health.

"Research has shown that people who do not have strong support from friends and family live shorter lives and suffer more from stress...

10 Ways to Make New Friends

1. Figure out who you want to be friends with and why you like these people.

2. Get involved with activities such as sports, religious groups, or other things that interest you.

3. Introduce yourself and remember names.

4. Work on good conversation skills so that you get better at both listening and talking.

5. Be sensitive to other people.

6. Take compliments politely without seeming full of you...