Good friends are not really that hard to find as long as you know how to recognize them. Sometimes, most people don’t even realize that they are already in the presence of one just because they’re too busy hanging out with the wrong crowd.
The best people you can have as friends may vary and they have their own set of unique attitudes and personalities. They may be your funny classmate from your high school days or that thoughtful coworker who would always remind you to take it easy.
Sometimes, friends can come from the most unexpected introductions – that stranger whom you shared an umbrella with on a rainy afternoon or even a random acquaintance who suggested a good book for you to read over the weekends.
There are different types of individuals who have the potential to be a good friend, and the following important qualities make them one of the best people in the world.
1. Loyal: Good friends stay even when everyone else has left.
When the entire world has already abandoned you, your good friends will be the only ones left to help you stand again – and it’s everything that you’ll ever need.
With their loyalty, good friends will never let you feel that you’re alone even if you think that you don’t deserve anyone especially after a failure or a disappointment.
2. Accepting: A good friend doesn’t judge you for being different.
A good friend will respect your decisions and accept how you want to live your life – even if they don’t really understand it. They will be there for you to help you celebrate the person who you want to become. They will encourage you to recognize your uniqueness and they will be there to help you face the world without the fear of being judged or rejected.
3. Honest: Good friends let you see reality as it is.
Good friends won’t sugarcoat things, especially if they know that letting you deny reality can eventually harm you. They will be there to slap you with the most painful truth even if it means hurting your feelings. They are willing to look like the bad person just to save you from a more devastating consequence.
4. Caring: A good friend will remind you to be good to yourself.
A good friend is that person who will remind you to love yourself more. This is true especially if you’re in a toxic romantic relationship. They will remind you every day to look after yourself more and to be good to yourself first instead of slowly breaking your heart because of a toxic partner.
They will remind you that you deserve self-love and that taking care of yourself should be one of your priorities.
ALSO READ: 15 Ways to Show Your Friends that You Care
5. Positive: Good friends can help you love life more.
Good friends are good for your mental and emotional health. These are the people who will tell you how to love life more, to be more optimistic, and how to live it to the fullest. They will be the reminders that life is an adventure that should not be kept waiting – and trust that they’ll be there to make every journey more fun and exciting.
6. Inspiring: A good friend teaches you how to become a better person.
Good friends are your real-life guide to becoming the best version of yourself. They will inspire you to be a better person just by learning how to be a more caring, loving and kind individual. With their example, they will help you realize that you have a lot more to offer.
ALSO READ: 10 Inspiring Ways to be a Better Friend
7. Patient: Good friends will be there – even when you’re at your worst.
Even when you’re not exactly being an angel, trust your friends to be still around no matter how annoying or inconsiderate you become. This is because they recognize that not everyone is perfect and everyone has their own bad days.
Just make sure to make it up to them and thank them for sticking around especially when you’re in your worst mood.
8. Comforting: Good friends make you feel safe and at peace with yourself.
A good friendship can be your personal sanctuary – a refuge from the chaos and the mess of work, school and other aspects of your busy life. This is because good friends can easily and effortlessly make you feel safe and at peace with yourself.
In the presence of good friends, you feel relaxed and secure, knowing that you’re with the people who genuinely love and care about you.
9. Present: A good friend always shows up when you need someone the most.
They will never be too busy or too occupied to spend time with you. They will always make sure that you won’t be alone in your most painful moments, and they will see to it that they’re there during your happiest celebrations.
Time and distance don’t matter to them because you are a big part of their life, and they’ll never hesitate to show or prove it.
10. Supportive: A good friend believes in your potential to reach your dreams.
A good friend will always see the best in you – even if you’re already being too ambitious. For them, you can do anything you put your soul into because they believe in your potential. They are your number one fans who will cheer you up in every victory, loss, accomplishment or failure.
11. Committed: A good friend will always be in your life no matter what.
Even if they’re far away and regardless of the years that you’re apart, you will always have a friend in them – because a good friendship is forever. In fact, it’s the best kind of relationship that you will ever have with another person. It will never end: no breakups, no goodbyes – just pure love, respect, and appreciation of being connected with this special soul.
You’re one of the lucky few if you have someone in your life that you think of as a good friend. Just as how they are good to you, you also have to do your part to make it work. How? Appreciate their existence and most importantly, let them know, through your words and actions that their presence in your life makes every day worthwhile.
Hopefully, this article was able to help you realize the true essence of friendship and how you can recognize a true and genuine friend when you’re in the presence of one.
