Be willing to let a friend go, though, if it just isn’t working out. You’ll feel worse about yourself if you continue to have awkward conversations and disinterested meetings. Sometimes two people change to the point that they’re no longer a good fit for each other, and it would do more harm than good to try to preserve the friendship. Look back on your happy memories whenever you’re feeling down and take heart in the fact that if you’ve made new friends in the past, then you can certainly find new friends again.

The simplest step towards making new friends is to be friendly. If you’re welcoming to everyone you meet, people will feel more inclined to get to know you better. If you want to make new friends, you can’t be afraid to make the first move. Start with some small activity that the two of you can do together. You can ask someone new to sit by you at lunch or ask a co-worker if he’d like to work out with you. If this sounds too daunting, then consider putting together a group activity like a dinner party or a girls’ night out. Then you won’t have to feel like you’re singling out any one person as a potential friend while expanding your social circle and paving the way for future friendships.

If someone else makes the first efforts to start a friendship or invites you to a group event, take advantage of every opportunity. Even if the activity doesn’t sound too interesting at first, it’s probably worth a few hours of your time to scope out a potential friend, as long as he or she isn’t asking you to do anything that goes against your morals. If you keep an open mind and stay on the lookout for social opportunities, you should have new friends in no time.

Whether you’re hanging out with your grade school pals or someone you met this week, positive friendships can be a constant source of self-confidence.

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