Making friends is one of the easiest things in the world for me.  I'm a natural.  It takes some effort and some work and like any other skill you have to practice.  Most people don't because they're afraid of rejection or negativity or other problems.  Here are the basics.

1.  Be confident in yourself.  You have to like yourself, love yourself, appreciate yourself, and be generally satisfied with who you are and where you're going.  If you can't do that, you won't make friends.  People pick up other people's emotions.  If you aren't happy and you're not a friend to yourself, why should anyone else be your friend?  They think, "She doesn't like herself, why should I?"  Learn to love yourself and things go easier.  The confidence level you have is everything when you talk to people.

2.  Smile.  A lot.  People don't like people who complain, whine, b****, moan, gripe, and otherwise are negative.  People like positive people who are smiling, happy, and enthusiastic.  You don't have to be like a dog where you run around always happy but be positive.  People are attracted to positive, motivated, active people.

3.  Listen.  A lot.  Never tell more about yourself than the other person tells about themselves.  Always let others talk, never interrupt, ask questions, and learn about them.  Reference old stories they told and talk about how they're relevant today.  Give others attention.  If someone tells a story or has a bad experience, don't top it.  Don't say, "Oh, but listen what happened to ME."  Be empathetic, laugh at their jokes, cry at their sadness, but don't actually compete with them over stories and problems and successes.  You can share your life (you have to) but you don't do it in direct competition with theirs.

4.  Talk in person.  Facebook, emails, texting.... it's easy to reach out to people but the human interaction is what makes friends.  I talk on the phone.  I go out and do activities with friends in person.  I don't hang out much in chat rooms, I don't text friends unless it's a specific quick question and answer, and I don't facebook chat with people.  I see them in person and talk.  Get rid of the electronics and meet real human beings.  Do things together.  You don't have a strong relationship if you only email or text.  Even Skype is iffy.  Go DO things and build strong relationships and bonds.

5.  Talk to new people.  Try it.  Say hello to strangers.  You'll have some say hello back.  Get off the computer, out of the house, and into the world and talk to people.  It'll be weird and uncomfortable and you'll soon get comfy with it.  You have to practice.  I can go to a grocery store and smile and say hello to all the cute girls.  I can make a joke in line with another customer I never met and talk for the few minutes it takes to get to the teller.  You have seven minutes to spare. Instead of texting, listening to music, or standing there, try engaging people around you.

6.  practice!  Practice more!  Do it again.  You'll improve. 


Good luck!

It's hard to make close friends.  My dad was in the miliatary, so growing up I never knew anyone for more than three years.  We would always move before I could really make friends.  My mom, on the other hand, has a friend she's known since she was like three years old.

I think mostly, it takes time, patience, and ...well time.
Understand the people you want to be friends with, forgive them for making mistakes, and always keep an eye out for ways to grow together, whether that be professionally, intellectually, financially, or emotionally.

A friend, after all, should want you to make your life the best it can be, right?

just be your self and be nice to them also try to help them if they need it