© Shutterstock

Friendship makes you physically healthier -

Research shows that friends are just as important as diet and exercise. Social connection is linked to lower blood pressure, lower BMI, less inflammation, and a reduced risk of diabetes.

© Shutterstock

Friendship makes you happier -

Since 1939, a study by the Harvard Study of Adult Development has shown that relationships are the number one key indicator of joy and happiness. The research shows that the only factor they could correlate with happiness was the quality of their human relationships.

© Shutterstock

Friendship makes you live longer -

Science has revealed that social ties are a survival mechanism. We need friends to make us feel safe, supported, and loved. Feelings of loneliness and rejection can trigger the same parts of our brain as physical pain, which is correlated with a greater risk of death.

© Shutterstock

Friends can help us gain greater emotional balance -

You probably can't imagine a happy person without friends. This is because deprivation of friendship has a negative effect on our mental balance. Friends increase our self-esteem and make us feel good during bad times.

© Shutterstock

Sociability makes you less likely to get sick -

Social ties can buffer negative effects on our bodies and indirectly strengthen our immunity. A study even discovered that those with highest quantity and quality of social connections were the least susceptible to getting sick when exposed to a virus that causes the common cold. 

© Shutterstock

Friendships are linked to financial success -

Even if money can't buy you quality friends, financial success on the other hand is linked to social competence. The most successful people in life and business can effectively interact and connect with people.

© Shutterstock

Friendship makes you feel safe -

Without social connection, our brain panics and goes into fight-or-flight mode. This can lead to stress, anxiety, and feelings of isolation. Friendships counteract this by creating a sense of safety.

© Shutterstock

Friendship improves your mental health -

Science has shown that friendship reduces stress and strengthen our self-esteem. This means that friends are good for your psychological well-being.

© Shutterstock

Friends can encourage personal development and growth -

Friendships can help in the process of self-discovery of identity. Through friends, we can also acquire values, knowledge, and learn different behaviors.

© Shutterstock

Friendships fuels the power of empathy -

A 2013 study at the University of Virginia found that the brain activity of a person whose friend was in danger was essentially the same they experienced themselves. This shows how friendships makes us empathetic.

© Shutterstock

Friends provide us with good moments and fun situations -

Friendships are usually associated with sharing activities that we find pleasant and enjoyable. This helps improve our health and well-being considerably.

© Shutterstock

Friendships reduce stress -

Research suggests that maintaining strong friendships can help you cope with stress more effectively. It can also help lower your chances of facing it in the first place.

© Shutterstock

Friends can relieve emotional pain -

Not only can friends relieve emotional pain when we're sad, they'll also listen and give us their most unconditional support. This can also help reduce our physical pain.

© Shutterstock

Friendship improves your self-worth and overall confidence -

A good friend often sees the best in us, even when we can't see it within ourselves. After experiencing times of failure and disappointment, our true friends bring to light our strengths and personal value.

© Shutterstock

New friends challenge you to get out of your comfort zone -

New friendships are more likely to help you get out of your comfort zone. This can help you let your guard down and embrace new experiences.

© Shutterstock

New friends mean a brand-new start -

New friends give you the ability to get to know someone with a clean slate. There are also no real expectations other than getting to know each other and enjoying each other's company.

© Shutterstock

Friends offer less loneliness and social isolation -

Loneliness and social isolation can affect mental and physical well-being. However, casual or superficial friendships often don’t provide much emotional support when compared to true friendship.

© Shutterstock

Friends will introduce you to more friends -

Not only have we found lifelong connections through our friends, but many have also found romantic partners, more friends, and even business connections.

© Shutterstock

Friends offer us a sense of belonging -

Knowing that we belong somewhere is one of humanity's most basic needs. Developing and maintaining close friendships helps foster feelings of belonging.

© Shutterstock

Friends offer different perspectives on things -

One of the great benefits of friendship is to have someone we respect opening our eyes to different perspectives. True friends can talk to us and let us know when we let biases, prejudices, anger, and other things get the best of us.

© Shutterstock

What makes a good friend? -

So now that you know the benefits of having friends, are you aware of what makes a good friend? These are some important factors.

© Shutterstock

Vulnerability -

Vulnerability is one of the major qualities of a good friend. Opening up and being honest are crucial for creating depth in your relationship. So is admitting your mistakes. Being vulnerable helps others feel comfortable being vulnerable as well.

© Shutterstock

Consistency -

Good friends are reliable and show up when it matters most. They're consistent and follow through when they say they will.

© Shutterstock

Positivity -

Friends are the ones that help you during tough times. They make you laugh through your tears. They're also genuinely fun to be around and add joy to your life.

© Shutterstock

These are the signs you have a good friend -

You have a good friend if you feel good around them. They'll care for your well-being, and help lift you up when you're down. A good friend will also value and put as much effort as you into the friendship.

© Shutterstock

What to avoid in a toxic friendship -

On the opposite side of the coin are toxic friendships. These are defined by control, manipulation, negativity, and drama.

© Shutterstock

Warning signs -

One warning sign of a toxic friend is when they try to emotionally dump their feelings on you. They'll also make you feel less self-confident and create drama for no reason. Letting go of toxic friendships could drastically improve your mental health and open up space for healthy friendships.

© Shutterstock

How friendships radically improve your life -

At the end of the day, you don't need to be a social butterfly to enjoy the benefits of friendships. The most fulfilling and long-lasting relationships are those few friends you feel fully yourself around. Keep them close, and you'll genuinely improve your life.

Sources: (Healthline) (Science of People)

See also: How and when to let go of friends 

© Shutterstock