{"id":13553,"date":"2022-07-30T10:59:56","date_gmt":"2022-07-30T00:59:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/explorecareers.emotedigital.com.au\/?p=13553"},"modified":"2022-08-01T11:00:12","modified_gmt":"2022-08-01T01:00:12","slug":"international-day-of-friendship-how-to-forge-positive-friendships-wherever-you-go","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/international-day-of-friendship-how-to-forge-positive-friendships-wherever-you-go\/","title":{"rendered":"International Day of Friendship: How to Forge Positive Friendships Wherever You Go"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s kind of weird how we just meet a person, decide – \u201c<\/span>I like you, I\u2019m going to spend more time hanging out with you than any of these other people around here<\/span>\u201d – and then they\u2019re just our friend! <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need us to tell you how valuable a good friend is, and we know there will be times when we head off into new parts of life where we\u2019ll need to be able to make new friends.<\/span><\/p>\n

At school, it seems so easy – we\u2019re all in the same boat, and we just have to figure out who\u2019s the best fit for us. As we get older and start apprenticeships or our first jobs, maybe heading to college or university, it all gets a little more complicated.<\/span><\/p>\n

But not impossible.<\/span><\/p>\n

On this International Day of Friendship, we\u2019re focusing on celebrating the lifelong friends who keep us sane and how we can keep cultivating positive relationships to find good friends wherever we go.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>What is the International Day of Friendship?<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Taking place on the 30th of July, the United Nations (UN) International Day of Friendship is an opportunity to celebrate a shared spirit of solidarity in one of the most simple yet wonderful forms of human relationships – friendship.<\/p>\n

It is no surprise that science has found that one of the most significant indicators of a happy, long life is the positive relationships and friendships we cultivate.<\/p>\n

The International Day of Friendship was proclaimed<\/span><\/a> in 2011 by the UN General Assembly with the idea that friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities.<\/p>\n

According to the UN<\/span><\/a>:<\/p>\n

\u201cThrough friendship \u2014 by accumulating bonds of camaraderie and developing strong ties of trust \u2014 we can contribute to the fundamental shifts that are urgently needed to achieve lasting stability, weave a safety net that will protect us all, and generate passion for a better world where all are united for the greater good.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>4 Tips For Forging Positive Friendships in a New Place<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

In the early years of our lives, we go through some significant shifts – from moving schools to starting new jobs and figuring out who we are.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s natural to outgrow some friendships or feel like we need different friends to help us in different ways.<\/p>\n

Whatever the situation, here are our five top tips to help you with making new friends wherever you go:<\/p>\n

1. <\/span>Focus on the activities and hobbies you enjoy.<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n

A mistake people sometimes make is to focus on where people are to put themselves into activities they think will help them make friends. Instead, try to focus on the activities and hobbies you enjoy.<\/p>\n

If you like hiking and walking, why not join a hiking group? If you enjoy running, a running group. Reading? A book club. Gaming? A board game meet-up.<\/p>\n

Use the activities you like to find groups of like-minded people in your area, and you\u2019ll put yourself in an excellent position to meet people who enjoy the same things as you.<\/p>\n

2. <\/span>Be curious and ask questions.<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n

When meeting new people, it\u2019s all about finding the balance in the conversation so that everyone feels like they have a chance to talk and share and get to know each other.<\/p>\n

Remember to stay curious about others and not just talk about yourself. Think about what you\u2019d enjoy being asked when a new friend is trying to get to know you, and use this to form questions you can ask others. Some of our favourites include:<\/p>\n