Showing Friendship through Body Language

Finding a friend is often a mysterious process that seems to happen almost as if by magic. You meet them - see them in different situations - and somehow you end up being lifelong friends. Sometimes you can foster friendship and help to sustain it by using good body language.

When you are open to friendship - you might indicate that by showing an open palm or sitting with your legs apart. It is always important to maintain good eye contact with someone you are being friendly with. Just don't stare at them.

In fact - you can attend to a person by focusing on that person with your ears - your eyes - and your body. You can also show them your feelings through your body language. You can project interest in them by tilting your head when they speak. Look at them in an alert and interested way.

Sometimes - just by spending time with a person - you are automatically giving them body language cues that you are willing to be friends. Show signs that you are listening to them and you will have a better chance at friendship.

Once you have established something of a friendship through body language and conversation - you can allow yourself to get even closer to the friend. Friends often stand close together. They will sometimes touch casually on the hand or arm. Men like to pat each other on the arm or give each other playful punches.

Empathy is an important aspect of friendship. If your friend can't identify with your feelings - you might not feel that they're very valuable as a friend. To have this value - you need to show empathy in your body language.

You can do this by leaning in when the person is speaking of matters of importance to them. Show your emotions through your body language. Laugh - smile - cry - or touch when it seems right. Hug them if it seems comfortable - but follow their body language cues to determine if it makes them feel anxious.

If you have made a friend - you will be happy with the experience. Yet - you can never neglect your friendship and assume it will always be the same. It's up to you to send your friend the right body language signals to let them know they are still appreciated and cared for.

In studies - it has been shown that kids with learning disabilities have a hard time maintaining friendships. They can make friends easily. Yet - when the friend interacts with them on a daily basis - they have trouble understanding the friend's body language. This leads to hurt feelings and ultimately to a loss of the friendship. If you are to avoid this pitfall - you must pay attention to your friend's body language.

Body language can help you make a friend and help you to understand your friend better. By knowing about body language - you can use it to help you maintain a good relationship with your friend. Knowing body language and using it can be the difference between having an acquaintance and truly having a friend.