Essential Qualities Of A Good Friend
Friendship is undeniably important for your mental and emotional well-being. With a solid support network in place, you can meet just about any challenge life throws at you. Plus, you can enjoy everything so much more when you’re surrounded by companions who appreciate you and truly “get” you. But what’s the definition of a true best friend? What makes a good friendship, and how can you tell if you’re cultivating one? Without a clear sense of what you’re looking for in your close relationships, it’s easy to fall into unhealthy dynamics and miss out on the kind of rich, loving friendships you deserve.
We’ll explore the seven key qualities of a good friend, explaining how to identify each and considering why each aspect is so important. As you look through this list, consider how you might also learn more about how to be a good friend to the people in your life.
7 Qualities Of A Good Friend
Of course, you may have two equally good friends who are entirely different from each other in most respects. However, the vast majority of high - quality friendships feature certain core traits that lead to a sustained and mutual sense of empathy, comfort, love and understanding.
Which of these seven characteristics do you see in your friends, and which do you think you could stand to have more of in your life? Keep reading for the top 7 qualities of a good friend.
1. Honest
Among the traits of a best friend, honesty is easily one of the most significant.
Your friends should tactfully tell you the truth, rather than lying to keep you happy in the short term.
For example, they should be straightforward when it comes to discussions about clothes, romance, job opportunities and how you come across to others.
They should never be cruel or abusive. On the other hand, deceitfulness and manipulativeness are tell-tale qualities of a bad friend.
And if you find out that a friend is lying to other people, the chances are fairly high that they are dishonest with you as well.
2. Accepting
Great friends are accepting, even when their lives diverge from your own. They will understand that your choices are your own, and see that what’s right for them isn’t necessarily right for you.
So, for example, they won’t try to make you change how you look, pressure you to do things that make you uncomfortable, or fight with you when you reveal you have a different view about something. It’s fine for them to challenge you and encourage you to say more about your values, but this should always be done in an even-handed way and it shouldn’t be done with the goal of changing who you are.
3. Low-Maintenance
Great friends quotes often point out how important it is for friends to be able to reconnect after time apart.
In other words, your friend shouldn’t need your attention every minute of the day, and should be able to understand that you have lots of commitments.
One way to maximize your chances of creating low-maintenance friends is to seek our people with similar lifestyles.
So, if you’re a parent then you might fit best with friends who also have children, and if you work long days then it can be helpful to hook up with people who also prioritize their career.
4. Non-Judgmental
You need friends who make you feel confident about who you are, not people who induce self-doubt.
Indeed, a non-judgmental approach is also one of the characteristics of a good person more generally. Your friends should listen to you and do their best to put themselves in your shoes, even if means trying to relate to a very different belief system.
Friends who try to convince you that there’s a “right” way to be will often turn out to be bullies, and can make you feel very insecure about your individuality. It’s your uniqueness that will actually attract people who are a good match for you.
5. Loyal
Loyalty is unquestionably one of the most important qualities of a good friend.
You need to know that this person will stick by your side no matter what and that their commitment to you is not fickle.
The very best friends will help you out when you’re struggling, whether it’s with money, love, mental health difficulties or something else entirely.
In contrast, “fair weather friends” are ones who are only there when things are good for you and when you have plenty to give.
This indicates that they’re only interested in what you can do for them and that they don’t value you as much as you deserve.
6. Respectful
Mutual respect is one of the most powerful traits of a good friendship, and a lack of it is a serious warning sign that you’re entering into an abusive dynamic.
There are lots of facets to respect. For example, your friend should keep your secrets, not talk about you behind your back, and value your time.
In addition, they should form opinions about you for themselves rather than listening to gossip. Further, once again, if you’re talking to a friend who is telling you people’s personal business, it’s likely that they’re using your secrets as conservational currency in their chats with other people.
7. Trustworthy
Finally, never underestimate the importance of aspects of friendship that involve trust. Trustworthiness isn’t just about keeping confidences, as discussed above. It’s also about sticking to a certain set of moral principles that relate to the aforementioned traits of honesty and respect. For example, someone who flirts with your partner or tries to undermine you at work isn’t really a friend, and definitely can’t be trusted with anything important.
In contrast, friendships that are built on trust are usually long-lasting and deeply satisfying. Make it a priority to create this kind of relationship with people. Offer trust, and make it obvious that you can be trusted in response.
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Friendship is undeniably important for your mental and emotional well-being. With a solid support network in place, you can meet just about any challenge life throws at you. Plus, you can enjoy everything so much more when you’re surrounded by companions who appreciate you and truly “get” you. But what’s the definition of a true best friend? What makes a good friendship, and how can you tell if you’re cultivating one? Without a clear sense of what you’re looking for in your close relationships, it’s easy to fall into unhealthy dynamics and miss out on the kind of rich, loving friendships you deserve.
We’ll explore the seven key qualities of a good friend, explaining how to identify each and considering why each aspect is so important. As you look through this list, consider how you might also learn more about how to be a good friend to the people in your life.
7 Qualities Of A Good Friend
Of course, you may have two equally good friends who are entirely different from each other in most respects. However, the vast majority of high - quality friendships feature certain core traits that lead to a sustained and mutual sense of empathy, comfort, love and understanding.
Which of these seven characteristics do you see in your friends, and which do you think you could stand to have more of in your life? Keep reading for the top 7 qualities of a good friend.
1. Honest
Among the traits of a best friend, honesty is easily one of the most significant.
Your friends should tactfully tell you the truth, rather than lying to keep you happy in the short term.
For example, they should be straightforward when it comes to discussions about clothes, romance, job opportunities and how you come across to others.
They should never be cruel or abusive. On the other hand, deceitfulness and manipulativeness are tell-tale qualities of a bad friend.
And if you find out that a friend is lying to other people, the chances are fairly high that they are dishonest with you as well.
2. Accepting
Great friends are accepting, even when their lives diverge from your own. They will understand that your choices are your own, and see that what’s right for them isn’t necessarily right for you.
So, for example, they won’t try to make you change how you look, pressure you to do things that make you uncomfortable, or fight with you when you reveal you have a different view about something. It’s fine for them to challenge you and encourage you to say more about your values, but this should always be done in an even-handed way and it shouldn’t be done with the goal of changing who you are.
3. Low-Maintenance
Great friends quotes often point out how important it is for friends to be able to reconnect after time apart.
In other words, your friend shouldn’t need your attention every minute of the day, and should be able to understand that you have lots of commitments.
One way to maximize your chances of creating low-maintenance friends is to seek our people with similar lifestyles.
So, if you’re a parent then you might fit best with friends who also have children, and if you work long days then it can be helpful to hook up with people who also prioritize their career.
4. Non-Judgmental
You need friends who make you feel confident about who you are, not people who induce self-doubt.
Indeed, a non-judgmental approach is also one of the characteristics of a good person more generally. Your friends should listen to you and do their best to put themselves in your shoes, even if means trying to relate to a very different belief system.
Friends who try to convince you that there’s a “right” way to be will often turn out to be bullies, and can make you feel very insecure about your individuality. It’s your uniqueness that will actually attract people who are a good match for you.
5. Loyal
Loyalty is unquestionably one of the most important qualities of a good friend.
You need to know that this person will stick by your side no matter what and that their commitment to you is not fickle.
The very best friends will help you out when you’re struggling, whether it’s with money, love, mental health difficulties or something else entirely.
In contrast, “fair weather friends” are ones who are only there when things are good for you and when you have plenty to give.
This indicates that they’re only interested in what you can do for them and that they don’t value you as much as you deserve.
6. Respectful
Mutual respect is one of the most powerful traits of a good friendship, and a lack of it is a serious warning sign that you’re entering into an abusive dynamic.
There are lots of facets to respect. For example, your friend should keep your secrets, not talk about you behind your back, and value your time.
In addition, they should form opinions about you for themselves rather than listening to gossip. Further, once again, if you’re talking to a friend who is telling you people’s personal business, it’s likely that they’re using your secrets as conservational currency in their chats with other people.
7. Trustworthy
Finally, never underestimate the importance of aspects of friendship that involve trust. Trustworthiness isn’t just about keeping confidences, as discussed above. It’s also about sticking to a certain set of moral principles that relate to the aforementioned traits of honesty and respect. For example, someone who flirts with your partner or tries to undermine you at work isn’t really a friend, and definitely can’t be trusted with anything important.
In contrast, friendships that are built on trust are usually long-lasting and deeply satisfying. Make it a priority to create this kind of relationship with people. Offer trust, and make it obvious that you can be trusted in response.
