Kiran Athar
A loyal friend is like a Godsend – you can trust them with your deepest and darkest secrets and know that they’ll always be there for you!
But what if you’ve got doubts about a friend in your life? Maybe you’ve got the feeling they’re not as loyal as you’d have hoped for…
If that’s the case, you’ll find this article very interesting – I’m going to reveal 10 personality signs of a loyal friend, and by the end of it?
It’ll be clear whether they fall into this category or not!
Let’s dive in:
1) They’re always honest
Want to know the most telling personality sign of a loyal friend?
It’s honesty.
No matter what it’s about, a new dress, or a potential girlfriend on the horizon, you can trust them to tell you the truth!
You see, a loyal friend knows that they could sugarcoat the truth to spare your feelings, but in the long run this won’t be beneficial for you.
That’s why you can always rely on them to open your eyes to the reality of a situation, even if you don’t want to see it!
2) They root for you
But it’s not all harsh truths and painful realities – another personality sign of a loyal friend is that they’ll be your number one fan!
By that I mean they truly believe in you.
When you think you can’t go for that top-class promotion at work, or that no one will want your online services, they’re the friend that says, “You can do this”.
In all honesty, if you’ve got a friend like this, you’re incredibly lucky!
Because we all falter in our self-belief and confidence from time to time, but having someone by your side who wishes nothing but the best for you is invaluable.
But that’s not all; a loyal friend knows that for you to achieve your dreams, you may not always be free to catch up over a coffee or go out every Friday night. They understand because…
3) They respect your boundaries
Even if it inconveniences them.
A loyal friend knows the value of healthy boundaries, in fact, they’re likely to have their own in place too!
When you say “no” to something, rather than pressure you or guilt trip you into changing your mind, a loyal friend will tell you to take your time and get in touch when you’re free.
Here’s the thing:
Boundaries are essential whether it’s in romantic relationships, with family, or even with your closest friends.
But not everyone will respect them. A true sign of loyalty is remaining committed to your friendship, even if it’s not always on their terms!
4) They don’t put conditions on the friendship
Leading on from the last point, another personality sign of a loyal friend is showing up and honoring your friendship, without conditions.
What do I mean by that?
Well, have you ever had a friend who was only interested in hanging out with you, so long as you do what they want to do?
“I’ll only be your friend, if….” is the sentence that comes to mind.
One example is an (ex) friend of mine who would get the hump whenever I just wanted a quiet evening at home. She’d literally get mad and accuse me of being boring.
Another would ignore me for days if I didn’t reply to their text messages instantly.
These are unhealthy behaviors, and a loyal friend won’t exhibit them. You should feel secure knowing that they’ll be your friend, no matter what.
5) They invest in your friendship
Rest assured, a loyal friend won’t put conditions on your friendship, but they sure as heck will invest in it!
Some examples of being invested in a friendship include:
- Making an effort to spend time with you
- Remembering important dates like birthdays or anniversaries
- Expressing gratitude for the friendship
- Going out of their way to do kind things for you
- Getting to know you on a deeper level (and allowing you to know them, too)
You see, a loyal person is in it for the long run. They don’t want a superficial friendship, only worth showing off on Instagram.
They want to really get to know you, the good, the bad, and the downright ugly! They essentially just want to be a part of your life. That leads me to my next point:
6) They include you in their life and are active in yours
We all want to feel included, right?
Well, another personality sign of a loyal friend is that they make you feel significant in their life.
They include you in the big things and the small, seemingly insignificant stuff (which over the years, builds up and adds significant value to a friendship).
But that’s not all…
They make a real effort to be a part of your life, too.
When you’re in need? They’re there for you.
When you’re celebrating the good times? Guess who shows up with champagne.
That’s what loyal people do, they show up. They stick around. You never have to chase them for friendship. In fact, you know you can lean on them because…
7) They’re reliable and consistent
Loyal people don’t want to disappoint. They’ll be there for you because they want the best for you, but also because they feel a sense of moral responsibility.
After all, if you can’t turn to your friends, who can you turn to? Not everyone has a family who supports them unconditionally.
But just when you think a loyal friend can’t get any better, they turn out to be incredibly consistent, too!
You can count on them because they remain consistent in their behavior, actions, and attitudes.
With a loyal friend, you never have to play a guessing game of what mood they’ll be in today – this makes them a great friend to have in life!
8) They’re authentic
Another important personality sign of a loyal friend is that they’re authentic.
I just spoke about never having to doubt where you stand with them, and a lot of that comes from being reliable and consistent.
But it also happens when someone is authentic. They’re their true selves around you (and everyone else).
They don’t need to pretend to be someone they’re not.
This reminds me of a friend of mine from childhood. She’s quite an opinionated person and can be a bit difficult sometimes.
But she’s incredibly genuine and authentic. She knows herself and how she can sometimes rub people up the wrong way. But she’s also very kind and caring – not to mention loyal too.
People still want to be her friend because they know exactly who she is and what she’s about. This is rare in today’s world where so many people hide behind a filter!
9) They’re empathetic and understanding
Being empathetic and understanding go hand in hand with loyalty. Without those two personality traits, it’d be pretty hard to remain loyal to anyone!
You see, during a friendship, you’re likely to go through many obstacles, together and alone.
A loyal friend will be by your side throughout it all.
They’ll offer a sympathetic shoulder to lean on, kind words of advice, and most of all, they’ll understand how you feel.
That’s the beauty of empathy; it allows us to put ourselves into the shoes of others.
The more we do this, the more we learn to accept people, regardless of their flaws and imperfections.
That’s why a loyal friend won’t judge you for your insecurities. They won’t ditch you when you make a mistake. They’ll simply talk it out with you and get back to normal as soon as possible!
10) They keep their promises
And finally, another personality sign of a loyal friend is that they keep their word.
This ties in with being reliable, consistent, and honest.
They won’t tell you they’ll pick you up for your appointment and then cancel at the last minute.
No matter what crops up, if it isn’t urgent, they’ll honor their commitment to you.
These are the types of friends who you know will be with you for life. They’ll be the ones who sit with you when your kid breaks their knee and ends up at the hospital.
They’ll be the ones who emotionally support you after your parents pass away, or you go through a divorce.
But they’ll also be the people who’ll be there cheering you on when you graduate, have children, buy a new house or get your dream job!
So, if someone was on your mind throughout reading this article, I suggest you give them a call and thank them for being such a loyal friend…
And if not…if you’ve come to the realization you have an unloyal friend in your life, it may be time to consider whether this is a friendship worth continuing!
