When we are surrounded by people who come from the same background as ourselves, we tend to stick to them. Instead of branching out and making new acquaintances, we find comfort in hanging out with people that are familiar with the way we do things. Everyone is guilty of this. It’s only natural that we take the easy way out. But by only associating with people like ourselves, we are missing out on not only potentially amazing friendships but exposure to things that we could not experience on our own.
Whether it is diversity in thought, culture, religion, race or sexual orientation, having a diverse group of friends will help you grow as a person who is able to respect and appreciate others for being true to themselves. Not only will you be exposed to different ways of life, but you will be forced to question the way you live your life.
There is a lot to learn from diverse sets of people, so there is a ton to learn when those diverse people happen to be your friends. With friends that contain multitudes, you will become better balanced and educated as an individual. A simple conversation, a home cooked meal, even just a house tour with a friend from a different background can broaden your horizons and give you a break from the uniformity of your life.
Advice from diverse friends might even be more beneficial to you because they have a completely different perspective. The whole point of getting a second opinion is to look at the situation from a fresh angle. Surrounding yourself with people who think just like you is like staring into a mirror and expecting an objective complement.
As you make new friends and discover the qualities each person has to offer, you will come to realize that you share a lot more in common with them than you may have thought. It may not be obvious because everyone has different ways of expressing themselves, but in the end, we are all just people looking to be accepted and appreciated by those around us. So befriending diverse people might help you learn more about yourself. It could bring out a side of you that you didn’t even know existed.
This being said, you should not create criteria or establish a set of quotas that limit who does or does not get to be a part of your friend group. That is simply dehumanizing. All I am suggesting is that you try to overcome the fear of rejection from those unfamiliar to you. When you self-segregate you are unknowingly assuming the worst about people who you have not even bothered speaking to yet.
So keep an open mind. Switch things up a bit. It might just be that the person you were hesitant to talk to will become one of your closest friends!
