Ten Easy Ways to Make Friends

01. It's hard to make friends if you stay home alone all the time. Get out of the house and do things that will put you in touch with other people. Join a club or play a sport. Attend meetings of neighborhood associations or other groups. It's easier to make friends when you have similar interests.

02. Learn from people at school or work who seem to have lots of friends. Observe how they make and keep friends. Don't imitate all of the things they do, but try to notice what they do. Then try some those things yourself.

03. Don't be afraid to show people what you're really good at. Talk about the things you like and do best. Don't hide your strong points. People will be interested in you if there is something interesting about you.

04. Plan things to talk about with people. Find out what's in the newspaper headlines, listen to the CDs, learn about what's new with your favorite TV or movie star. The more you have to say, the people will be interested in having a conversation with you.

05. Look people in the eye when you talk to them. That way, they'll find it easier to talk to you. It's very difficult to have a conversation with people whose eyes are looking to the left, to the right, at the floor - anywhere but in the other person's face. People may think you're not interested in them and may stop being interested in you.

06. Be a good listener. Let people talk about themselves before talking about "me, me, me". Ask lots of questions. Show an interest in their answers. This alone will make people want to be friend.

07. Once you start to get to know someone, don't be friendly one day and then too shy to talk next day. Be consistent. Consistency is something people look for in friends.

08. Have confidence in yourself. Don't be self-critical all the time. This will only make the process more difficult. Think of your good qualities. People are attracted to those with self-confidence.

09. Try to make friends with the kind of people you really like, respect, and admire - not just with those who are easy to meet. Be friendly with a lot of people. That way, you'll have a bigger group of people to choose from and have greater chances for making friends.

10. After you make a new friend, keep him or her by being a good friend. Treat your friend as you would like him or her to treat you. Be loyal, caring and supportive. Your friend will treat you the same way.