Home / Making Friends / How to Build Stronger Friendships
Go Deeper. Stay Closer. Trust More.
40 lessons · 6 themes · practical tips in every lesson
Trust, honesty, support and shared joy that turn good friendships into lifelong ones.
THEME 1 · 7 LESSONS
The Foundations of Strong Friendship
What every deep friendship shares.
LESSON 01
Trust: The Ground Everything Grows In
LESSON 02
Reliability: Do What You Say
LESSON 03
Honesty With Kindness
LESSON 04
Respect for Differences
LESSON 05
Shared Values and Shared Fun
LESSON 06
Mutual Effort
LESSON 07
Safety to Be Yourself
THEME 2 · 7 LESSONS
Be a Friend Worth Having
Become the friend you want.
LESSON 08
Show Up When It Is Inconvenient
LESSON 09
Be Generous With Your Time
LESSON 10
Celebrate Their Success Without Envy
LESSON 11
Keep Their Secrets
LESSON 12
Say Thank You Often
LESSON 13
Give Honest Support, Not Empty Praise
LESSON 14
Be Easy to Be Around
THEME 3 · 7 LESSONS
Go Deeper Together
Emotional closeness, step by step.
LESSON 15
Share What You Really Feel
LESSON 16
Ask Better Questions About Their Life
LESSON 17
The Thirty-Six Questions That Build Closeness
LESSON 18
Tell Stories That Matter
LESSON 19
Be Vulnerable in Small Doses
LESSON 20
Receive Their Vulnerability Well
LESSON 21
Create Safe Space for Hard Topics
THEME 4 · 7 LESSONS
Support Through Hard Times
Be there when it counts.
LESSON 22
What to Say to a Friend in Pain
LESSON 23
What Not to Say
LESSON 24
Show Up With Practical Help
LESSON 25
Check In After the Crisis
LESSON 26
Ask for Support Yourself
LESSON 27
Be Patient With Grief and Change
LESSON 28
Celebrate With Them After the Storm
THEME 5 · 6 LESSONS
Keep the Fun and Play Alive
Joy keeps friendships young.
LESSON 29
Plan Regular Fun Together
LESSON 30
Share Inside Jokes and Rituals
LESSON 31
Try New Adventures as Friends
LESSON 32
Take a Trip Together
LESSON 33
Laugh Often, Laugh Together
LESSON 34
Create Traditions
THEME 6 · 6 LESSONS
Grow Together Over Time
Adapt as you both change.
LESSON 35
Let Friends Change and Grow
LESSON 36
Be Their Cheerleader for Big Goals
LESSON 37
Talk About the Friendship Itself
LESSON 38
Forgive and Repair Quickly
LESSON 39
Keep Learning What Your Friend Needs
LESSON 40
Your Friendship Deepening Plan
Ideas in this topic come from
- Daring Greatly (Brené Brown)
- The Good Life (Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz)
- Platonic (Marisa Franco)
- The Speed of Trust (Stephen M. R. Covey)
- Atlas of the Heart (Brené Brown)
Tips are written in our own words and are general guidance. The books are suggestions for further reading.
