How Important Is It to Be Friendly?

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Friendliness is a down-to-earth approach to others that is welcoming and positive.

Think about a time when someone was friendly to you—maybe drawing you into a gathering, saying hello on the sidewalk, or smiling from across the room. How did that make you feel? Probably more included, comfortable, and at ease; safer; more open and warm-hearted.

When you are friendly to others, you offer them these same benefits. Plus, you get rewarded yourself. Being friendly feels confident and happy, with a positive take on other people, moving toward the world instead of backing away from it. And it encourages others to be less guarded or reactive with you since you're answering the ancient question from millions of years of evolution—Friend or foe?— with an open hand and heart.

In its own quiet way, ordinary friendliness takes a stand that is almost subversive these days: that the world has many more opportunities than threats, that most people want the best for others, and that simple, informal human connections tie this battered old planet together much more than jumbo corporations or mass media flickering on the walls of our upholstered caves.

The Practice

You can be friendly with intimates and strangers, co-workers and in-laws, babies and bosses—even those you know only in the abstract, like people on the other side of the world. Of course, it is not always appropriate to be friendly with someone, such as to an adversary or to someone who would misunderstand you. But opportunities for greater friendliness are probably all around you this week.

To warm up your brain's circuits of friendliness, you could try one or more of these:

• Recall being with someone who cares about you.
• Remember when someone was friendly to you.
• Bring to mind a time when you were friendly to someone.
• Get a sense of the posture, movements, gestures, and facial expressions of a person you know who is naturally friendly.
• Relax your body into a feeling of friendliness: leaning forward a little, rather than back; softening and opening your chest, face, and eyes; breathing goodwill in and out.

Everyday Opportunities to Be Friendly

Then look for everyday opportunities to be friendly. Often you'll just give a smile, handshake, or nod— and that's plenty. Maybe it's offering a few minutes to talk. Or a morning hug or goodnight kiss. Or an extra touch of warmth in an email.

Stretch yourself, but stay within the range of whatever is authentic. Remember that friendliness is not agreement or approval; it does not mean you have given up on whatever your stances may be in the relationship. Friendliness does not equal friendship; in truth, most relationships are with friendly acquaintances.

Consider your family and friends. What about being more friendly with your lover or mate? I have worked with couples for many years, and it's painful to see how often basic friendliness is a casualty in a long-term relationship. Or being more friendly toward parents, siblings—or your own children? Again, it's startling how easily friendliness can be crowded out of our most important relationships by busyness, little irritations and hurts, or weariness from working too hard. But bits of friendliness, sprinkled here and there, can be absolutely transformational in a relationship. Try it and see!

Also, consider being friendlier toward people you might normally ignore or treat with distance, even coolness, such as wait staff in restaurants, someone shuttling you to the airport, or—breaking the big taboo—strangers in an elevator.

Last and not least, there is friendliness toward animals (“great and small, seen and unseen, omitting none”)...plants...your body...and yourself. Even friendliness toward inanimate objects: greeting the door before you open it, the ground about to meet your feet; not slamming the drawer in, but instead wishing it well; welcoming the cup rising to your lips.

See what happens. Take in the rewards, like one small log after another, fueling that warm glowing fire on the hearth in your heart.