The Morning Thing talks about making new friends. Why is it so hard sometimes?

Why is making friends hard sometimes? On Thursday’s show, we talked about some ways to make great friends. It starts with US.

Kimberly Amici wrote an insightful article for faithgateway.com about friendship.
Kimberly found herself as a stay-at-home Mom searching for deeper connections as she searched for new friendships.
She shared some insight about making friends. Click HERE to read the full article.

• Take ownership of my relationships.
  

  I used to think that friendships should form organically and would grow if they were meant to. While a handful of relationships do form naturally, longevity and depth are marked by intention.

• Stop looking for just anybody to like me.
  

  Friendship cannot be merely about itself; it must be about something else. When I look back over the most rewarding friendships of my life, I recognize that at their core was a common goal, mission, or passion.

• Don’t assume people should want to be my BFF.
  

  Just because we’ve met a few times and our kids go to the same school doesn’t mean that they are a good fit for friendship. I became interested in people, asked them questions about themselves, and kept my ears open for something we had in common.

• Resist the urge to chase after the people with whom I thought I should be friends.
  

  Instead, I opened myself up to others little by little as they did to me, and now I’m happy to call those people friends. It was a simple shift in focus, but my life is the better for it.

Making new friends can be intimidating, but it’s definitely rewarding.
Here are 10 personal tips to get new friends from Celestine Chua, the writer and founder of PersonalExcellence.co
Click HERE for the full article.

1. Realize your fear is in your head

2. Start small with people you know
– Reach out to acquaintances.
– See if there are cliques you can join.
– Get to know your friends’ friends.
– Accept invitations to go out.

3. Get yourself out there
– Join meetup groups.
– Attend workshops/courses.
– Volunteer.
– Go to parties.
– Online communities.

4. Take the first step

5. Be open
– Be open-minded. Don’t judge.
– Open your heart

6. Get to know the person
– What does he/she do?
– What are his/her hobbies?
– What has he/she been up to recently?
– What are his/her upcoming priorities/goals?
– What does he/she value the most?
– What are his/her values?
– What motivates/drives him/her?
– What are his/her passions in life? Goals? Dreams?

7. Connect with genuinity – Show warmth, love, and respect toward everyone you meet.

8. Be yourself

9. Be there for them

10. Make the effort to stay in touch