That might sound like a bad thing, but actually, having acquaintances is important! Studies show that people feel happier when they interact with people they only know casually. [1] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Business Review Online and print journal covering topics related to business management practices Go to source It makes you feel good to be noticed by someone you might not consider a friend just yet.
You probably also make more of an effort to spend time with a friend rather than an acquaintance, although this isn’t always a marker of your relationship. If you’re both super busy, you can still maintain a friendship with someone without seeing them very often.
Ask yourself things like, “How many times per week do I see this person?” and, “Do we make an effort to hang out?”
Ask yourself things like, “How much do I trust this person?” and, “How comfortable do I feel around them?” There are also different levels of friendships. If you’re starting to open up to each other, you might be moving from casual friends to close friends.
Ask yourself something like, “Can I be my true self around this person?”
You might ask yourself something like, “How much does this person care about me?” When you start caring deeply for each other, you might be moving from close friends to intimate friends.
You can usually tell that someone doesn’t want to be your friend if they blow you off or accept things you give them without gratitude. This could mean that they’re just putting up with you, and that they don’t actually want to deepen your connection.
