Often times, it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what a best friend is like from the perspective of their good traits. It is not always easy to be friends, and sometimes the best thing one can do for another is to make an unpopular decision as a sign of friendship.
Sometimes it seems as though a good friend is just anyone who is fun to be around. It is important for teens to keep in mind that although friendship might not be easy, there are a few traits of a good friend that every teen should be aware of.
Characteristics of a Good Friend
Let’s take a look at what it takes to be a good friend to a teenager and how you can achieve that. In order to give you an idea of what to expect, here are a few characteristics:
Trustworthy
There is no doubt that everyone has secrets, whether it is your secret crush or if you are having problems at home or school. It is important for you to have the confidence in yourself that your secrets are going to stay just that: secrets. It is important to have a good friend to whom you can confide your deepest secrets.
Unless it is a secret that could harm you, they will keep their lips sealed so that no one else can know what they are talking about.
Honest
When it comes to friendship, it is important to be honest with each other. There is nothing more important than someone telling you if your outfit is terrible or if your behavior is dangerous. Having a good friend will make you feel as if you have an angel on your shoulder nagging you about something.
If they do tell you the truth, even if it hurts your feelings a little, you can count on them to tell you the truth. Your honesty will be met with understanding when it comes to their feelings, and they will be honest about theirs. As well as sharing their lives with you, they will also share their secrets with you as well.
Attentive
You will find that good friends enjoy being around you when you are around them. It is important for them to listen to you and to understand what you are feeling, as well as what you have to say. In the event that you tell a good friend that you are sad, that friend will be the first to hug you and empathize with whatever is making you feel sad.
There will be people who will help you cope with the heartbreak if you broke up with your boyfriend, and will also help you to move on from it. If you have a disagreement with them, they will also work with you to find a compromise.
Fun
There is nothing more difficult than being friends with someone who has no interests in common with yours. When people have common interests such as sports or art, they can make the best of friends because they share common interests.
It is certain that you will have fun doing them and that you will have things that you can do with your friends. In order to make these common interests a positive one, they must be positive, like hobbies or bands, and not destructive, such as breaking the law or using drugs.
Loyal
We all fear making mistakes, especially when we are in high school, but the best friends will help you to overcome your mistakes by helping you to learn from them. It doesn’t matter how thick or thin you are, they are always there for you.
In every situation in life (divorce, detention, poor grades, etc. ), a good friend will be by your side to help you through the challenges you face along the way.
Caring
It doesn’t matter if they hug you, tease you, or buy your favorite chips, a caring friend is concerned about your state of mind and wants to help you overcome, to make you smile and overcome your problems. You can be sure that these people care about what makes you sad and work hard to cheer you up.
There is no doubt that your health and well being are of the utmost importance to them.
Good Listener
In order for you to be able to cope with a bad day, or to cope with being reprimanded, you need someone to listen to you. It is always a good idea to have friends who are always willing to lend a listening ear.
There are many people out there who sympathize with the injustices of the world and celebrate your triumphs.
Non-Judgmental
To have a friendship with someone, you need to be able to accept your differences as well as how you might differ from them. It is important to know that good friends do not judge you, but rather help you overcome your mistakes.
It is important to remember that if you make a bad decision or get a bad grade, they will not allow you to dwell on your errors but will encourage you to improve.
Supportive
It is essential for good relationships to have support from each other. It is necessary to have friends who will support you in your positive endeavors and help you get through any pitfalls that you may encounter. Having a good friend by your side will help you to cope with your emotions and hurts in the event that your parents divorce, for example.
Funny
I think it is great to have a friend who can help you see the humor in every situation, no matter what it is. In a time of crisis, you may need someone who will be able to make you laugh, have an impromptu food fight, and make you feel better about things. By doing this, you can be able to prevent yourself from taking life too seriously.
Forgiving
The importance of forgiveness cannot be overstated. There are a number of things you need to forgive, but you also need friends who can forgive you as well. As human beings, we all make mistakes, but being able to move on from them is one of the signs of a great friend, a friend who doesn’t hold grudges against you.
Helpful
It is important for friends to help each other out. No matter what you are doing, you can always count on your friends to pull an all-nighter for you, whether you are helping with the dishes or collaborating on a school project. If it is something that is important to you, they will be willing to donate their time and effort.
Maybe they will help you with your homework so that you can improve your grade, or perhaps they will build a float for you.
How Friendship Can Be Difficult
The importance of friends in high school cannot be overstated. It seems that the best friends are the ones who are always looking for ways to have a good time and are always looking for ways to do so. However, it is important to keep in mind that friendship is not just about that.
Occasionally, a friend needs to make a difficult decision, such as taking away the keys from a friend who has been drinking and is planning on driving after drinking.
A good friend can also find it challenging to be someone’s friend if he or she is going through a difficult time (for example, a death in the family) and a good friend does not know what to do when the friend is going through such a difficult time.
It is also possible for friendships to go through rough patches at times. There are a variety of things that can make a friendship seem like it is over, including fights, clashes, and jealousy. The situation can become even more complicated at times when there are boys or girls involved.
An example of how a friendship can be strained is when a friend has a boyfriend and begins to spend all of her time with him instead of spending time with her friends.
The Bright Side
It is also true that friendship can be one of the most beautiful things in one’s life. I believe that having a friend that you get along with and who shares the same interests as you can fill your day with joy. There is nothing more exciting than going to the movies with a friend or talking to a friend over the phone.
For teen girls, having a friend who can talk about boys with them or do their makeup for each other can be a great thing. There is nothing more exciting for a teen boy than having a friend over to watch a big game with him or to work on the car with him.
In addition to providing fulfillment on a deeper level, friends can also provide a sense of belonging. A person can feel happier in general when he or she is connected on a personal level with another human being.
Finding the Perfect Friend
There are certain characteristics that can make for the best relationships, but what makes a good friend for you might not be the same as what makes a good friend for someone else. Someone might need to be hugged while another might need to be teased and made to laugh in order to feel better.
There is nothing wrong with that at all. These characteristics can be used as a starting point for finding the perfect friend who fits your needs and wants.
On the other end of the spectrum, learn to spot the characteristics that make a friend a bad friend in order to be able to avoid them in the future.