Ever since ancient times, we cannot live without friends in our daily lives. A Chinese proverb says, "At home, we depend on our parents; but while away, our friends." Generally speaking, people who have a lot of friends will have a better life, both physically or psychologically, than those with only a few. Life will be wonderful and fulfilling if we have friends to comfort us when we encounter setbacks; friends to help us when problems arise; friends to accompany us when we feel bored or lonely; friends to celebrate with us when we have happy things to share!

Many people pay little attention to their social lives. In fact, loneliness can adversely affect our physical and mental health to a large extent. A study reveals that being lonely for a long period of time can make one emotionally down, which leads to a higher probability of suffering from heart disease for men, and a higher probability of developing depression among women than men. Therefore, broadening our social circle is important for enhancing the quality of our lives.

An old Chinese proverb says, "Among the three, there is a mentor." Every person has his/her unique strengths. Making friends with different types of persons always gives us good opportunities to appreciate or learn from the others. Even when conflicts arise, we can take this as an opportunity to re-examine ourselves for personal development and advancement. Being sociable not only broadens our horizon, but also enables us to get help when in need, which in turn enhances our sense of security and confidence.

Each of us has our own established style of getting along with people. It is advisable to recall and organize our previous successful experiences so as to develop our own effective model of communication with others. In addition, it is also important to find out the obstacles which prevent us from developing good relationships with others. In short, if we want someone to be our good friends, we need to behave as a good one first. The tips are simple: be honest, put ourselves in another's shoes, be a good listener without imposing your own judgment. Stay positive, optimistic and happy will always make you approachable.

In addition, keeping regular contacts with friends and arranging social gatherings are crucial to maintain and groom friendships. With the handy communication gadgets nowadays, we can easily organise social activities by making use of our mobile phones or online social network to deliver information of gathering or even conduct opinion polls to select a suitable time and place for the gathering. Moreover, a study suggests that being a member of religious group can substantially reduce the sense of loneliness. It can increase our sense of belonging and expand our social network.

We wish you all be happy. Be proactive in broadening your social circle and showing care to your friends!

Dr. Tiffany Lee
Clinical Psychologist