How to make friends and have meaningful relationships

 Before we worry too much, we should know that it is possible to make new friends and have a social circle or social life even outside of school and work.

 It is possible to be a social person and form lasting friendships, but it takes effort and dedication.

The different types of friendship in our lives

 Before going deeper into the subject, it is important to know the three most common types of friendships we may have in our lives:

1. Acquaintances: these are those people with whom we get along well in our work environment, but we do not necessarily have contact outside of it. And that's totally fine, the important thing is to maintain a good relationship.

2. Common friends: are those people with whom we share time from time to time and consider our friends, even if our conversations are generally superficial.

3. Soul mates: these are close friends with whom we can talk about anything and at any time, no matter how much time has passed without seeing or talking to each other.

 We understand that our relationship does not depend only on the time we spend together.

 When we were kids, making friends was much easier.

 At that age, judgment or criticism from other kids didn't matter much, and it was enough to approach someone and ask if they shared our interests.

 It's that simple.

 However, as we get older, making friends becomes increasingly difficult.

 It can be complicated to meet new people, especially if we find it hard to socialize or have not fully understood the concept of friendship and how to cultivate close relationships.

 That's why it's important to know some keys to making friends in our adult life.

Let's get to it!

Building friendships

Be true to yourself

 Developing and maintaining an authentic friendship is possible if you have a personality that people recognize and appreciate.

 You should want to be the company that others want to be around, but without abandoning your own essence.

 Don't try to change your true identity just to impress others. Unless you have aggressive, critical, bad listening, dishonest and unreliable behaviors, then you may need to make some changes in your life.

 In other words, always remain authentic at all times, even in your hobbies and passions.

Be sincere

 Don't pretend you're interested in an activity just because a friend does it and you want to have something in common with him. It's okay if you don't have the same interests.

 Individuality is appropriate in any relationship or friendship.

 Remember: environment and company influence your behavior.

 Therefore, you should associate with people who bring you growth, not because you want to have friends.

 Their behavior will always influence you, and your behavior will always influence them.

Show your feelings

 Don't be afraid to be emotional and personal with your friends, that's what friends are for.

 If opening your heart doesn't come naturally to you, don't worry, but try to face your fears and step out of your comfort zone.

 The experience will be worth it.

Keep a positive attitude

 Be kind, understanding, loyal, tolerant, open-minded and a good listener at all times.

 Accept the ideas and opinions of others and expect the same from them.

Get to know people better

What are their hobbies? What do they work on or what is their career dream? What are their passions? What are their favorite books, movies, or foods? Is there anything you both share in these categories or others?

Get out and socialize

If you are in school, college, or some other institute, take on the task of meeting someone who is in the same classes as you.

 Perhaps there are sports or clubs you can join to meet people with common affinities.

 Accept invitations to parties or get-togethers with the main purpose of meeting new people.

 And if you're not in school or college, take a yoga or cooking class and you'll find the right opportunity to meet new people.

Tips for making friends and maintaining friendships

Share time together

 Once you've discovered some common interests, think of ways to share time with your friends.

 You can cook together, watch movies, read books, practice yoga, scrapbook, among other activities you enjoy.

 The important thing is to find something that brings you together and enjoy it together.

 For example, me and some 23- or 24-year-old friends, all book lovers, form a book club.

 We pick a book, read it and then plan a meeting where we discuss the book, drink wine, eat snacks and catch up on our lives.

 It's a great way to share time, talk about something that interests them and strengthen friendships.

Keep in touch

 Make an effort to keep in touch with your friends.

 Even if sometimes you can't talk often, just send a message once in a while to ask how they're doing or just to say hello.

 Try to schedule a time to have coffee or a drink together, or just to catch up. By doing this, you show that you care and care about the people you consider important in your life.

 Social media is a great tool for keeping in touch with your friends, regardless of where they are or what they are doing.

Does social media affect friendships and personal relationships?

In short, yes.

 Social media has opened a door to meet new people online and form digital-only relationships because of distance, but it has also made it possible to connect with people you will meet in person at some point in the future.

Today, online friendships have become increasingly popular thanks to sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

 When I was in high school, aside from the friends I frequented at school, I met many people online.

 I went on to form friendships with people located in places like London, Florida and upstate New York.

 We connected through a band we both liked (yes, a boy band) and after that, in college, I established more friendships and relationships thanks to social media.

 I even went on to date a band member and became friends with other of his friends.

 All this thanks to a person I met online who always initiated conversations.

 Clearly, one of the great things about using social media is the ability it gives you to connect with others and the influence you can have on them.

 Great examples are David Dobrik and his "Vlog Squad."

 If you know David, chances are you also know his friends and how they work together as a group to influence their audience that follows them.

Another example is the Tik Tok "stars" who have managed to gain friends and influence.

 In addition to building their social media following and their efforts to be influential, they have also built friendships with the people they live with, although some doubt the true nature of these relationships.

 Only they can confirm this...

Tips for making friends online

 It is true that new technologies can prevent people from interacting face-to-face, but they also provide the opportunity to build friendships through the Internet.

 This allows you to keep in touch with people from all over the world without having to leave your home.

 Social media offers many options for meeting new people and making friends.

 Here are some useful tips for making friends online:

• Join online groups or communities that share your interests and tastes.

• Participate in discussions and conversations, show your interest and express your opinions in a respectful manner.

• Consider using chat applications, video calls or online games to interact with other users.

• Do not give out personal information, keep your privacy and security online.

• Write positive and constructive messages that demonstrate your kindness and goodwill towards the other person.

 By following these tips it is possible to develop online friendships that will allow you to spend pleasant moments and find interesting people who share your tastes and interests.

Connecting through social networks

Connecting through social media can be a great way to establish new friendships and relationships.

Social media such as Twitter or Instagram are places where relationships can develop naturally when both users follow each other.

 A useful example is a girl from Los Angeles and I who follow each other on Instagram.

 Despite living in different cities, we started interacting through uplifting messages and reactions on our posts.

 One day, she wrote me to say that she would be visiting New York for a week and would be happy to have coffee with me.

 We met up and spent a few hours together, discovering that we had many interests in common.

 In short, connecting with like-minded people through social networks is a very useful tool for establishing relationships and friendships that can lead to face-to-face encounters and even enrich our lives.

Join a Facebook group

Connecting with people online is easier than ever: a simple click of a button or message is enough to start a conversation with someone.

 Best of all, there are Facebook groups for any interest or hobby, so join one!

It is true that having friends is important for personal happiness and well-being, but beyond having a large circle of friends, it is important to build meaningful connections with the people around you.

 While friends are an important source of emotional support, in times of crisis you need more than that.

 Making new friends is not easy.

 It takes time and effort, and not everyone you meet will be like-minded.

 However, strive to be a good person and the friendships that are worthwhile will become evident over time.

Maintaining these relationships also takes effort.

 While you don't need to talk to your friends every day, make sure you make the effort to see them from time to time and share mutual interests.

 In conclusion, friends are an important part of our lives.

 Make sure you invest the time and energy to build meaningful connections with the people around you, and you'll see how these relationships help you grow and stay happy in the long run.

Join a Facebook group today and start building meaningful relationships!