As you move closer to achieving your goals, you’ll notice that the circle of friends becomes smaller and smaller. Having the right people in your life can be the most important skill you can learn.

The truth is, our close relationships have a disproportionate effect on our lives for the amount of time we spend intentionally thinking about them. For most people, the closest relationships in their lives were arbitrarily chosen for them by their school system, their job, or the activities they happen to enjoy when they were teenagers. And they haven’t really thought about it since. They see the same people, hang out in the same places, and have the same conversations — on repeat. Having long-lasting friendships is a wonderful thing. Not choosing them intentionally is a missed opportunity.

Choose a Friend Who Gets Your Quirks, Oddities, and Weird Sense of Humor

Friends need to laugh together. We like our good times in life, and sometimes the best times come from our own odd character traits. Choose a friend who gets those quirks and can laugh with you rather than at you. After all, if you choose a friend who gets your odd sense of humor, it's likely they have one, too. Look for someone who will laugh with you at a look or a glance. Those people will be some of your best friends. They don't put you down for the things that make you different; they embrace them!

Choose a Friend Who Stands By You in the Tough Times

It's so easy for us to be good friends in the fun times. There's all kinds of laughter and joyful moments, and those times make relationships easy. But who are the people who stand by you when times turn tough? Those are your true friends. Those are the people that get that life doesn't always go the way we plan. It's much harder to stand by someone that's having a tough time, so choosing a friend that is strong enough to be the shoulder to cry on or hold your hand when it's needed is a wise choice.

Choose a Friend Who Gives as Much as They Take

We've all had friends that only want things from us, but they never seem willing to give to us when we need it. Relationships involve compromise. Sometimes you're going to do what your friend wants to do, even though it's not quite your thing, and sometimes she is going to do what you want to do, even though it's not quite their thing. When a relationship is one-sided, we end up feeling resentful and angry. It's not healthy. Choose a friend with whom you feel a balance of give and take.