How To Master The Art Of Building Meaningful Friendships

It may be easy to make friends, but the art of building meaningful friendships requires effort from both parties. This means it will take more than an Instagram like on a photo, or a lunch date. To know if you’re building a meaningful friendship ultimately relies on one question: “How will you maintain them?”

Whether you’re in your 20s, 30s, or 40s, being optimistic will likely attract like-minded people. As the saying goes, “It’s never too late to be who you could’ve been,.” It is also never too late to make meaningful connections.

“Instead of focusing on past betrayals or disappointments, be open to new possibilities,” said Violet H, Mwandenga, Life Coach at UNIQUE Journey.

“The best way to begin a relationship is by being a learner, meaning wanting to learn someone else’s story,” said Rick Trotter, pastor of Purpose Church. “Sometimes a connection is made better when people feel that someone is interested in them, as opposed to just self-focused.”

Meaningful friendships stem from listening and building a connection. Try to listen more than you speak. Creating a deep friendship means getting to know them, and understanding that everyone’s journey is different.

“To deepen friendships, moving beyond small talk and discussing values, challenges, and goals is important,” said Dr. Carolina Estevez, psychologist at SOBA New Jersey.

“Asking thoughtful questions and genuinely listening builds trust,” she said. “Vulnerability is also key — sharing personal experiences and emotions helps people feel closer and more connected. Spending time together in different settings, like traveling, volunteering, or working on a project, can also create strong bonds.”

Don’t be afraid to open up and tell secrets, be vulnerable, and show your true self. You never know how much you have in common with someone. In fact, this is how you’ll create a deeper bond, by simply entrusting someone with your life’s story.

“Friendships kept over a long period of time require hard work and good communication from the people involved,” said Dr. Leslie Sanders, Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Program Director of ATON Center. “Keeping in touch over text or call at regular intervals helps maintain the bond. Also wishing friends on their birthdays or congratulating them on achieving some form of height also tells them you are committed to friendship.”

Just as your romantic and family relationships need to be poured into, so do your friendships that you’d like to keep. Consistency is what makes those meaningful relationships flourish.

Connecting with people is an integral part of life. People need people for personal and professional means. It can be easy to get misplaced or thrown off course when it comes to what matters most. However, if you’re looking to build meaningful relationships you must prioritize those people and stay in constant communication for it to last.

“As it relates to the idea of friendship and meeting people, be aware of the fact that at the end of life, the things that will matter most to us are the relationships,” Rick said. “So on the front end, recognize that good friendships are developed so connecting with people should be a priority to pull you away from things that may be a distraction and miss people that are in your presence.”