How To Be A Better Friend/Have Better Friendships

A question that I have heard from many people in the past is 'how can I be a better friend' or 'how can I have better friendships', and while there is no simple method to make everything better overnight, there are some steps that you can follow. They may sound simple, but they're worth trying.

I'd like to start off by saying that I personally believe that people who are nice to others, attract nice people as friends. I guess this could be seen as a form of karma- kindness towards others ultimately brings kindness back to you.

• If you have a friend/friends/a friendship group who treat you badly, and do so frequently- get them out of your life. They may be your only friends, but you can always go and make friends with new people. Your friends should be chosen because you enjoy their company, you enjoy the same things, or just get along well. Your friends should not be people who are mean, hurtful, disrespectful, etc towards you- if they are, they are not real friends. 
• Be honest- don't be afraid to voice your opinion. Friendships require honesty on both sides.
• Don't do things you don't want to, just because they want you to do it. Don't go against your morals or values just to make your friend happy. If they are your real friends, they will understand. 
• If something is bothering you, tell them. Your friends will appreciate your honesty, and will try their hardest to help you in whatever way they can. 
• Be understanding that they will like different things to you- for example they will have different music tastes, different hobbies, etc. They will not like the same things as you, and don't try to make them! Instead be open minded, and maybe do something they enjoy doing. Compromising is important to a great friendship. Even if you do not enjoy it much yourself, they will enjoy sharing the experience with you.
• Text back. You don't have to text back instantly, and the conversation doesn't have to go on forever, but respond to texts whenever you get a chance. It's just far more polite to respond quickly than to not respond at all and leave the other person waiting for a response. 
• Be trustworthy- if your friend tells you something that they do not want the world to know, don't tell anyone (unless their life, or someone else's life is in serious danger). They privacy should be respected, and if they do not want the world to know something, don't make it public knowledge. Your friend should be able to trust you with information, and know that you won't tell everyone. 
• If your friend is having a bad day, week, or just a bad time in general, be supportive. Make sure they know that you are there for them if they require your help.

By being a 'better friend', it can often improve friendships as the other person feels that they can trust and rely on you much more, therefore making your friendship stronger. Different things will work for different people, but if you are in a toxic friendship, don't stay for longer than you need to- its not worth the pain it can cause you.