Characteristics of a Good Friend: How to Find Good Friends and Be One?

Friends are awesome. There’s nothing like being around a like-minded group of people who are ready to support you through thick and thin.

At the same time, not everyone can be called a “good” friend. People have different mindsets, ambitions, and characteristics, so looking for a friend who can have your back can be a challenge.

Still, there are some key characteristics that you can look out for when choosing your friends. This article will tell you what they are and how you can also become a good friend to others.

1. They Have Your Back:

When was the last time you needed help and someone was there for you? Hopefully, if your friends are any good, they’ll come for you in a heartbeat.

Friends who have your back will do their best to support you. If you’re stuck in a rut, they’ll gang up and pull you out of it.

As for you, you should strive to do the same. When your friends are in trouble, stick your neck out for them and help them out as much as you can.

Loyalty is a rare currency, and it’s even rarer when talking about friends. Always remember that a good friend has no problem helping you out. They don’t make excuses, and they’re not looking for something in return.

2. They’re Great Listeners:

Sure, listening is something we all should do. But it’s even better when your friends are great listeners themselves.

You can rest assured that Bob will make time for you, hear all you have to say, and give you his opinions about something.

Friends who listen will be there for you when you’re feeling down, want to have a quick chat, or want to discuss great matters that you’re not comfortable talking about elsewhere.

Rest assured that if your friends give you some of their time to talk things out, you’re in good company.

Being a great listener yourself, you’ll also do your part and be a good friend to them when they need a friendly ear. Listening is a skill, and the more you do it, the better you become at it. Progress here skyrockets if your friends are also great listeners.

3. Ambition Defines Their Goals:

The difference between an average friend and a great one is their capacity to dream, hope, and achieve.

You see, there’s something magical about being surrounded by people who have big ambitions, who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals, and who will welcome you to do the same.

These are the people who make for good, if not great, friends. Keep this in mind when interacting with new people. Try and learn what they want out of life and how passionate they are about getting it.

Likewise, you can become ambitious yourself! The great news is that the positive energy your friends exude will rub off on you and motivate you to go the extra mile in your own life.

4. They’re Unique:

We all love to have super friends. The ones who seem to be the main heroes in their own stories. These people are inspiring because they embrace their quirks, oddities, and contradictions.

You always learn something new from them because they’re so authentic! They’re literally a walking example of living true to yourself.

Everyone loves these things in people. They bring out the person in us who is scared to show himself to the world.

These are good friends who will encourage you to become unique yourself, and you should rise to the challenge and do so!

5. Boldness Is In Their DNA:

Bold friends make for the best storytellers, adventurers, and comedians. They make sure they’re living every moment of life to its fullest by doing new things every day.

The things they do are fun, light-hearted, and relatable. You can’t help but feel a sense of excitement when hanging out with them because every day brings something new.

Of course, the boldness we’re talking about here doesn’t mean being rude, vulgar, or impulsive. We’re talking about novelty. They love you more when you yourself do bold activities with them and step out of your comfort zone.

Hold on to these people tight because they’re awesome!

6. They Treat Others Like They’d Want to Be Treated:

Echo responds to the call, or so the saying goes. Good friends make it a priority to treat others well. They’re not mean because they know what goes around comes around, and the world already has enough negativity in it as it is.

They have no problem helping out strangers, and they engage in activities that better the world around them, or at the very least, they do their part by focusing on themselves and being the change they want to see.

Empathy is their weapon, and they use it to make life easier for everyone around them.

They treat you as an equal and want you to become a better human being too. You can do that as well by imitating their behaviour. Obviously, you don’t have to copy it, but you should strive to follow their example when it comes to exemplary behaviour.

7. You Can Be with Them and Say Nothing:

Good friends are so in tune with themselves that you can feel energised by simply spending time with them.

They give you the choice of engaging in regular conversation, sitting in silence, or walking with them around the city.

There’s no need for exciting conversations all the time. Sometimes, idleness does the trick because you want to be around others for the sake of it.

The key difference here is that the energy remains the same. Whether they’re talking, sitting, or walking, you still feel GOOD being around them.

Set an objective to be like that too. Learn how to give off good vibes simply by being there. This is possible when you watch your body language and tone of voice. Study how these elements play into creating an aura that makes people feel good when they’re with you.

8. They Don’t Hold Grudges:

Friends who hold grudges are not really friends. They’re people who are waiting for the chance to lash out at you for the smallest perceived misgiving.

Good friends are the opposite. They know when to let bygones be bygones, and they forgive you when something goes wrong between you.

They also make it clear that forgiveness is something you can learn yourself if you have a hard time doing it, and this is great for you too.

Grudges consume energy, which is better spent on other things worth doing. Good friends help you understand that quickly through their compassion.

In Conclusion:

Not all friends can be called good. How many times have we run into people and developed a bond with them, only to find out they don’t really care about us? A LOT.

Hopefully, at this point, you now know how to distinguish good friends from bad ones while also making it your mission to become a good friend yourself.

Always remember that friendship stops when people refuse to be friends anymore. Usually, this happens by doing the opposite of everything we discussed here.

What we wrote in this article might seem like a laundry list or something straight out of a Hollywood movie. However, it IS possible to find such good friends, and it will change your life when you do.