16 Tips On How To Make Friends As An Adult — The Average Joni

Amy, her friend Andrew, and that sign. 1. You do you. That phrase is trite and true. Remember Aibileen from The Help. “You is kind. You is smart. You is important.” Don’t roll your eyes, I’m serious. You’re rad, and I promise there are people who need you in their life. 2. Everyone wants friends. Everyone. Wants. Friends. “The chances that someone else wants to be friends with you is almost the same as you wanting to be friends with them,” Amy said. Most people are open to making new connections and having new friends. That guy over there does.

And that girl. And erryone. 3. Let go of first impressions. First impressions are powerful and pretty much always inaccurate. You never ever have the full story. Amy suggested, “Don’t let the first impression be the only impression. 4. Friends can play different roles. Not every friend has to be a best friend. There are all sorts of friends. 5. Hobby with others. Do it in a group. Don’t have a hobby, Try a new one, and do it in a group. Go to a new exercise class. Join a book club (public libraries are a good place to look). Sign up for a rec team.

Attend a writing group to receive feedback on a piece you wrote. Start taking those dance lessons you’ve always wanted to take. 6. Make a goal. The goal could be to show up at parties you’re invited to and talk to one new person while you’re there. You could find a church you enjoy and sit with someone new each time. Or maybe get to know one of your neighbors each month. 7. Follow your gut/promptings/thoughts that come to your mind. Whatever you like to call it, follow it. Once upon a time, Amy was at church and saw a guy quietly crying and sitting off by himself. She had the thought to talk to him, hesitated, and then talked to him anyway.



They chatted for a minute and at the end, she said, “Hey, if you ever need to talk, please give me a call.” The next day he called. They went on a walk and talked about how the love of his life broke his heart. Since then, they have become good friends who can talk about the goings-on of life as well as the new Stranger Things episodes. “I developed a whole friendship based on one thought,” Amy said. If the thought comes to your mind to chit chat with someone, help a neighbor out, or sit by someone who is alone, do it. This may mean putting yourself in anxiety-inducing situations. 8. Put away your phone.