<ul><li>Remember, when one distills the essence of our existence, it has almost nothing to do with material wealth, it is all about love.</li><li>Take the initiative to declare your affection to the people you care about and see the bond growing even stronger.</li><li>With that be sure to be selectively elusive.</li><li>While trying to play it cool, don't be the unsentimental one.</li><li>Showing affection will only make you human.</li></ul>

Dare to Talk about your Affection

<ul><li>Give others room to grow.</li><li>Don't be the top dog by intimidating others. Any short-term benefits received will be at the cost of long-term rewards.</li><li>Don't be the manipulative type (overbearing, codependent, victim), consciously or unconsciously.</li><li>Be cautious with criticism, and be tolerant.</li><li>Accept them for who they are, even if you do not approve of everything.</li><li>Allow for solitude, and respect their need for privacy.</li><li>Don't expect to be the only one that matters, rather encourage other friendships.</li></ul>

Create Space in your Friendship

<ul><li>Do not fear losing someone, for the idea of avoiding hellos to prevent the pain of goodbyes is anything but a solution.</li><li>"It's better to have loved and lost than to have not loved at all" ~ Alfred Tennyson.</li><li>Make conscious choices and efforts to make friends.</li><li>Strong friendships free us and do not cripple us with dependence.</li><li>Friendship is the most valuable asset out there, be sure to invest in it.</li></ul>

Make Friendships your Top Priority

<ul><li>Spend time doing something together.</li><li>Be the one to provide help with some task.</li><li>While sending a gift, make sure to send a thoughtful one.</li><li>Just be kind, in general.</li></ul>

Learn the Gestures of Love

<ul><li>If we are more humble than a facade, if we build more windows than walls, we will have more friends.</li><li>Get acquainted with the hidden section in your mind that contains memories of mean selfish impulses that terrify us, that erupt occasionally.</li><li>Dare to take the initiative of self-revelation, sharing, and opening up.</li><li>This does not allow your emotional life to be an open book. You must decide how much of yourself to reveal.</li><li>Be sure to exercise caution, as to not damage the listener.   </li></ul>

Cultivate Transparency

<p>You <em>do not have to be an extrovert</em> to have great friendships, here are 5 ways to deepen your friendships:</p><ol><li>Make Friendships your Top Priority,</li><li>Cultivate Transparency,</li><li>Dare to Talk about your Affection,</li><li>Learn the Gestures of Love,</li><li>Create Space in your Friendship.</li></ol>

5 Ways to Deepen your Friendships

At the heart of each relationship, says McGinnis, is thefriendship factor—the essential ingredient of warmth and caring. With captivating case histories and anecdotes about such famous people as George Burns, Howard Hughes, and C. S. Lewis, McGinnis shares the secret of how to love and be loved. The first edition of The Friendship Factor, published in 1979, has sold more than 350,000 copies.

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At the heart of each relationship, says McGinnis, is the friendship factor-the essential ingredient of warmth and caring. With captivating case histories and anecdotes about such famous people as George Burns, Howard Hughes, and C. S. Lewis, McGinnis shares the secret of how to love and be loved. The first edition of The Friendship Factor, published in 1979, has sold more than 350,000 copies.