For many, making friends in adulthood seems impossible. Given the reduced opportunities for meeting new people, many people give up on the prospect of making friends altogether.
However, this does not have to be the case. The best way to go about this is to take a deliberate approach. With the right mindset and strategy, you can position yourself to connect with like-minded people.
Here are 4 ways to make friends and maintain your existing relationships.
Join A Group
Joining groups or activities of interest is one of the best ways to meet people. Why? Because you have a goal to be there and the people you meet share that goal with you. For example, if you love books, joining a book club will enable you to meet people who also love books.
This common goal between participants of a group makes meeting people and connecting with them more natural. Since everyone has the same goal, they have something in common with which they can relate with. Make a goal to join something that interests you and you’ll definitely meet like-minded people.
Reach Out To Old Friends
The older we grow, the more we tend to lose connections with friends. Unfortunately, most people looking for friends ignore the opportunity to connect with old acquaintances and friends. There’s never a reason not to reconnect with people you’ve lost contact with, except in instances where there was a fallout. Even in such cases, the past can be forgiven depending on the reason for the fallout.
Be Persistent
Making friends is similar to dating. It requires some persistence. Take initiative by inviting people you’d like to connect with for hangouts, events, dates, etc. And thereafter, call or send a message telling them you had a good time and what made the meeting memorable. While this requires some vulnerability and not everyone may reciprocate, it’s a great way to foster relationships with others.
Don’t Take Rejection Personally
Nobody is immune to rejection. Even the most attractive and charismatic people have their own share of rejection. This is important to realise if you plan to make new friends. Whenever you face rejections, remember that it could be for reasons that have nothing to do with you.
For example, someone who turns down your request to hang out may have a busy schedule or maybe facing personal issues. Even if the person actually doesn’t like you, remember that not everyone must like you in the same way you can’t like everybody.
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