Good Friend Potential: Evaluating New Connections is Like Dating
Good friend potential, early stages of friendship, active listeners, mutual conversations, red flags, satisfying dialogues
Hi there! Evaluating new connections is almost like navigating the early stages of dating. There may be an attraction that seems to convey like-mindedness. But just like unwrapping a gift, you must get to the center to find the good stuff and it can take a while for you to become more certain that this stranger has good friend potential. Just like dating! Although I’m not an archeologist or social anthropologist, I dip into the process of building friendship as if it were a social and psychological excavation.
For over thirty-years, I showed many children and adults, while working as a speech language pathologist specializing in social-emotional pragmatics, strategies on how to build friendships. On a personal note, I’m fortunate to have life-long friends. That said, I’ve also experienced my share of diverse short-term acquaintances, disappointment, and disillusionment. Over the years. I’ve key traits which are essential in determining good friend potential. Here are several aspects to consider as valuable in your close friendships:
1. Active Listening! Are they interested in you, distracted or self-absorbed? When in your current or past friendships (and other types of relationships) have you experienced these aspects and how did it make you feel?
2. Quality of conversation! Engaging? Do they monopolize with monologue? Know-it-alls? Is there a mutual and curious discourse of shared opinions, needs and wants? Notice how you feel during and after the interaction. Ask yourself, how could you have shown up to have a different result?
3. Presence! Is there a mutual reciprocity of moods, ideas and interests? Do you feel fully received by them and can you feel them there with you or are distractions getting in the way?
4. Emotional IQ! This aspect is often overlooked during interactions. Look for nonverbal body language cues to help learn if qualities such as empathy, perspective, compassion are in the mix during your conversations.
5. Honesty and follow-up on commitments made! It’s that timeworn wisdom of “Say what you mean and mean what you say.” Without it, your friendship will most likely lack trust, safety and vulnerability being real.
6. What is another trait that’s meaningful to you in your friendships?
In my world, real friendships are vital and joyful life resets. There is no compelling reason to settle for less with someone just to avoid feeling lonely.
So, let's evaluate new connections with an open mind, nurture satisfying dialogues, and lay the foundation for you to have genuine, authentic, and enriching friendships! Championing you to step out of your comfort zone, enjoy life and have more fun! Thank you for the opportunity!
#GoodFriendPotential #MeaningfulConnections #EvaluateNewFriends
