I’ve been listening and reading a lot about friendships and relationships in general lately. I was particularly inspired by Jordan Peterson’s quote, “Make friends with people who want the best for you.”
How to Pick Good Friends
Good friends are people you can share with when something terrible happens, and they do not immediately become critical or judgemental. Good friends are people you can share good news with too. They’ll celebrate you and not get jealous.
At the surface, this statement is obvious, but how many of us choose our friendships out of:
- Proximity: If a friendship is formed simply because you see the person often, question whether that friendship should be a friendly acquaintance instead. If a friendship is based mainly on proximity, it will likely not be fulfilling.
- Opportunity: If a friendship is founded because the other person may be of benefit to you, this, too, will not be healthy. And you risk hurting the other person badly when they realize you’ve been using them.
- Status: If you make friends with people simply because you deem them wealthier, cooler, more interesting, or more famous, you should check your motivations before you slip into the opportunity category. This isn’t even a friendship, really. It’s a way to name-drop to appear cooler.
How to Be a Good Friend
Friendships should always be mutually beneficial. We should always be asking ourselves if we’re being good to our friends. Are we celebrating them? Are we being good listeners? Are we giving them helpful advice? Are we loving them in the way they love us?
