A good friend helps us build our self-understanding.

Good friends are genuinely interested in our hardships; they are not shocked by the odd and stupid things we've done.

Good friends know how to show weakness. They let us know awkward and embarrassing things about themselves.

They like us in ways we are not easily able to like ourselves.

Some of the reasons why we are not that good at friendships is the fact that we don't have a clear idea of what a really good friend might be like.

Good friends are reassuring. They don't just flatter - they understand how easily we lose perspective, panic and underestimate our own abilities.