16 Signs Of A True Friend

True friends are valuable. They are always there for you, whether you need a shoulder to cry on or someone to celebrate with.

They know how to make you laugh and can also offer meaningful advice when needed.

However, knowing who is a true friend and who isn’t can be tricky. So what sets the real deal apart from all the other people in your life?

To help you answer that question, let’s look more closely at what makes a true friend and discuss 16 signs that indicate you may have found one.

What Makes A True Friend?

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Many people will walk in and out of your life. However, only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.”

This quote sums up what a true friend is. They’re someone who makes a difference in your life by being present during both the good and bad times.

True friends are also honest with you. They will never intentionally hurt your feelings and always give you an accurate assessment of any situation, even if it’s not what you want to hear.

True friends are hard to find, but if you’re lucky enough to have one (or a few), you know how valuable they are.

Fake Friends Vs. True Friends – The Real Difference

Not all friends are created equal. There’s a big difference between fake friends and true friends.

Fake friends are like a mirage. They’re an illusion. They may make you feel good for a while, and show up for the good times, but they’re not really there for you.

Instead, they disappear when you need them the most.

They only care about themselves and what they can get from you. These people are manipulative, often with toxic personality traits. They’ll take advantage of you if they can.

Unfortunately, these so-called friends are common.

In fact, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology study found that only about half of the people you consider to be your friends also think of you as one. So you see, friendship isn’t always a two-way street.

Telling the difference between a real and toxic friendship can be difficult, but it’s worth figuring it out.

To help point you towards solid friendships, here are three scenarios you might experience, along with a possible reaction from a fake friend and a true one.

1. Your kids are sick…

and you must cancel a coffee date with a friend at the last minute. A true friend is understanding and asks if there’s anything they can do to help. However, false friends get annoyed or mad and try to guilt trip you into coming anyway.

2. You’re dealing with a family crisis.

A good friend is there for you, offering words of support and a listening ear. Unfortunately, a fake friend disappears when you need them the most.

3. You’ve been laid off from your job.

A true friend offers to help you search for new opportunities or lends a shoulder to cry on. Instead, a fake friend uses your misfortune as an opportunity to gossip and spread rumors.

These scenarios show a stark difference in how a fake friend and true friend would react in the same situation. So, the next time you’re questioning a friendship, ask yourself how your current friend would respond in one of those scenarios.

If you don’t like the answer, it might be time to move on and make some new friends.

Now that you know the difference between fake friends and real friendships, let’s look at 16 signs of true friendship.

These are great traits to look for when spending time with potential friends.

1) They’ll Be There Through Tough Times

Life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. There will be difficult times, and close friends will be there for you through thick and thin.

Though they might not always know what to say, they’ll do their best to share an encouraging word or provide a support system in whatever way they can.

2) They Have Your Best Interests At Heart

A great friend always has your best interests at heart. They want to see you succeed and be happy, even if it means making sacrifices on their end.

They’re not going to manipulate or take advantage of you so they can be more successful.

Instead, they’ll be happy to help you achieve your goals, even if they have to step back and take a supporting role.

3) They Help You Be A Better Version Of Yourself

Friends who believe in you and want to see you grow help push you to become a better version of yourself. They understand your potential and want to help you reach it.

So they’ll support your efforts to grow and improve.

They know your strengths and weaknesses and accept you for who you are. However, they don’t just leave things as they are.

They encourage you to work on your weaknesses and continue developing your strengths, allowing you to live your best life.

4) They Are Good Listeners

A true friend knows how to listen. So instead of trying to turn every conversation into an opportunity to talk about themselves, they’re happy to listen and provide their input when it’s needed.

They want to understand your thoughts and feelings and try to remember the important things to you.

5) They’re Your Biggest Fan

Real friends cheer you on as your biggest fan and celebrate your big and small successes.

They know how to make you feel special and appreciated and do whatever they can to help you reach your goals.

6) You Can Be Yourself Around Them

You don’t have to put on a show or pretend to be someone you’re not when you’re around a genuine friend.

They accept and love you for who you are, even if you’re not perfect. After all, they’re not perfect either.

You can be yourself around them without fear of judgment or rejection. This level of comfort and acceptance is essential for any lasting friendship.

7) They Respect Your Boundaries

Unhealthy friendships often involve one person being too clingy or demanding. In contrast, great friendships share a mutual respect for each other’s boundaries.

Good friends know when to give you space, and they’re careful not to overstep their bounds.

If you need some time to yourself, they’re happy to oblige. On the other hand, they won’t push you to share if you don’t want to talk about something.

8) They’re Loyal

A true friend is fiercely loyal. They’ll stick by you through the good things and the bad and won’t ditch you for someone else when things get tough.

You can always count on them to have your back, no matter what.

9) They Can Keep A Secret

Healthy relationships are built on trust, and one of the signs of a true friend is that you can trust them to keep your secrets.

They know how to be discreet and won’t gossip about you behind your back. So you can confide in them without worry that your secrets or personal information will spread like wildfire.

10) They’re Forgiving

A caring friend knows that everyone makes mistakes. As a result, they’re not quick to judge or hold a grudge. Instead, they’re willing to forgive and move on.

However, that doesn’t mean they forget your mistakes completely. They’ll still be able to bring them up when needed to help you avoid making the same ones in the future.

11) They Make Time For You

Spending time together strengthens any friendship, and good friends make time for you, even when they’re busy.

They’ll clear their schedule to spend time with you and go out of their way to include you in their plans.

Even when they can’t physically be there, they’ll find other ways to stay connected and involved in your life.

12) They Check In On You

Your mental health matters to real friends, who’ll check in on you in person and online to see how you’re doing. They care and want to ensure you’re doing okay and that nothing major is happening.

This could be as simple as sending you a text message, connecting with you on social media, or giving you a call.

Of course, different people prefer different levels of communication, so a true friend will try to find out what works best for you.

13) They Celebrate Your Milestones

A true friend celebrates your accomplishments and milestones with you.

They’ll show up to special occasions and be the first to congratulate you on your successes and will go out of their way to make you feel special.

They might buy you a gift, take you out to dinner, or simply let you know how proud of you they are.

14) They Try To Help, Even When They Don’t Know How

Friends don’t always know what to do or how to help, especially if they’ve never been in your shoes.

However, a true friend will try anyway.

They’ll look for something that needs to be done and do it. Or they’ll just be there with you to offer moral and emotional support.

The important thing is that they’re trying, even if their efforts don’t always pan out the way they’d hoped.

15) They’re Fun To Be Around

Life is too short to spend time with people who drain your energy. A true friend knows how vital happy times and laughter are, so they work to ensure you have plenty of both in your life.

You should feel relaxed and happy around them, not anxious or stressed.

If you don’t, that’s a sign that a toxic relationship could be brewing.

16) You Can Pick The Friendship Right Back Up

Sometimes, distance or crazy schedules separate us from our best friends. Yet, despite that, true friendship can pick right back up where it left off, even if months or years have passed.

With these types of friends, it truly is quality time together, no matter how rarely it happens.

Hold On To Your True Friends

It can be tough to tell who your true friends are, but if you keep these 16 things in mind, you’ll be able to spot them a mile away.

Once you know who your true friends are, hold on to them tight. A true best friend doesn’t come around often, but they make life a whole lot better when they do.

Do you have other tips for identifying a trustworthy friend or cautionary tales about fake ones?

Share in the comments below…

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