According to the research, friends help us celebrate good times and provide support during bad times; prevent loneliness; increase our sense of belonging and purpose; boost happiness and reduce stress; improve our self-confidence; and, help us cope with seismic life changes, like divorce, job loss, death of a loved one, or serious illness.

It’s important to nurture our friendships and these tips are helpful:

• Be kind. This remains the core of successful relationships. Think of friendship as an emotional bank account. Every act of kindness and every expression of gratitude are deposited into this account, while criticism and negativity draw down the account.
  
• Be a good listener. Ask what’s going on in your friends’ lives. Pay close attention through eye contact, body language and comments such as, “That sounds fun.” When friends share details of hard times or difficult experiences, be empathetic, but don’t advise unless it’s asked for.
  
• Open up. Build intimacy with your friends by opening up about yourself. Being willing to disclose personal experiences and concerns shows that your friend holds a special place in your life, and it may deepen your connection.
  
• Show that you can be trusted. Being responsible, reliable and dependable is key to forming strong friendships.
  
• Make yourself available. Building a close friendship takes time – together. Make an effort to see friends regularly, and to check in with them in between times.

GFS Perth has been enabling Friendship for almost 140 years. Check our socials or Events Calendar. #FriendshipRevolution