by Ann E. Smith

Created on: October 21, 2009

For some people, it's easy to make friends. But for others, it is more of a challenge. While there is no magic formula for how to make friends, there are a few things that tend to work for most people.

Below are a few tips for making friends.

* Strive to be nice, friendly and pleasant

People like to be around other people who are pleasant as well as nice. If you want to make friends, your attitude needs to be a relatively good one. Most people do not want to hang out with negative people, as it is a turn off.

* Show an interest in others

Okay, so you are nice, friendly and pleasant. But you are also self-centered. You may be able to make friends, but you probably will not keep them. If you want to connect with others, you need to show an interest in what they have to say and what makes them tick.

* Learn to laugh

It's okay to be intense some of the time. However, people are drawn to others who can laugh and lighten up a bit. You do not have to be a comedian to make friends. But you do need to be able to find some humor in life - and to be able to laugh at yourself on occasion.

* Be respectful

When you treat others in a disrespectful way, they will not like it. So try to remember to treat others with some manner of respect. You may not always see eye to eye, and that's fine. But you need to be careful in how you speak to others and in the way that you come across to them.

* Develop compassion and patience

If only this one were easy, we would all have more friends. But oftentimes, compassion and passion are things that are learned later in life. After all, it is often through being humbled that we learn how to really be compassionate and patient.

* Show a generosity of spirit

Some people are naturally generous of spirit. Others have to work on it a bit. Those who are generous in their hearts show a willingness to help others and to give of themselves. And others like these traits in their friends.

* Listen

To be a good friend, you need to listen to others. And the less self-centered you are, the more readily you can listen to what others have to say.

* Seek forgiveness

When you are wrong, admit it and seek forgiveness. Again, not easy to do. But if you can show the courage to be accountable for when you are wrong, others will greatly appreciate that in you. And they will want to be your friend.

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