1. Listen actively.
Most people have a dire need to be heard and understood, and there are very few good listeners out there. Be one of them, and others will simply love having you in their lives. They key here is to care about the other person and their world.
2. Have integrity.
A person with integrity is one who says what they honestly believe and does what they say. In other words, integrity is the alignment between thoughts, words and behavior. Have this alignment and people will be able to trust you and to respect you.
3. Be a fun presence.
Whenever you're interacting with a person, you want to bring positive emotions into their day. Don't be the grouchy, whiny person. Instead, be the fun and positive person, even if you sometimes don't feel like it. It's very easy to attract others into your life this way.
4. Do not criticize.
Even if you disagree with the way a person behaves or thinks, criticizing them won't help anybody and it will ruin your friendship. It's OK to disagree with a person or try to provide some guidance, but you want to do this in a tactful and constructive manner.
Last but not least, keep in mind that a friendship is a two-way street. You want to enrich people's lives with your presence, and to get your life enriched with theirs as well. So, choose your friends carefully.
The point is not only to know how to be a good friend, but to build healthy friendships.
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