Good morning, question asker! I'm Jiang 61.
First of all, thank you for sharing your confusion with us and for seeking an answer. You are wondering why everyone seems to have a best friend, but you don't.
I would like to take some time to discuss your confusion with you.
1. Introduction
1⃣️, friends
You say, "It would be wonderful to have a friend with whom I can share my joys and sorrows. While many people around me have at least one best friend or best girlfriend with whom they can go shopping, chat, and hang out together, I am still looking for that special someone with whom I can connect on a deeper level."
Additionally, it can be challenging for gay men to find someone with whom they can build a long-lasting relationship and have a deep understanding. Given the limited number of individuals in this community and the societal pressures that many face, it's understandable why finding a partner can be difficult.
Friend,
It would seem that you have lived for more than 30 years without a close friend with whom you can chat, share, be brothers, or go shopping, or a best friend. This may be a source of loneliness for you.
Identity
Given your unique status, it may be challenging to find a partner who is willing to accompany you for life. You may also feel that mutual understanding and mutual support are even rarer to achieve.
2⃣️, loneliness
You say, "I am a particularly sensitive person. I feel that in this big environment, everyone seems to be more negative. There is no longer the feeling of peace and harmony that we all had many years ago when we were able to care for each other. This makes me feel even more lonely. I have a lot of love that I want to give out, but I don't know to whom, because I also have selfish desires. I want to give the most love to someone who can be grateful and has the potential to develop into a good friend."
"I don't typically have any hobbies, and even if I did, I'm not sure how to use them to make friends because I'm relatively inexperienced. Starting a new hobby would be challenging for me. I'm also concerned about being criticized or looked down upon. If I were to use my specialty (computers), many professionals are not as skilled at or don't prioritize socializing, and I might encounter more confident individuals."
It seems that you are experiencing feelings of loneliness.
You mentioned the general environment, but I'm not quite sure what you meant. It seems like you feel that everyone is looking out for themselves and rarely cares for or helps each other, which might be making you feel lonely. It's possible that you want to give your love away, but you're not sure to whom.
It seems that you may be experiencing some challenges related to low self-esteem.
You don't have many hobbies, you're self-conscious, and you want to learn from scratch, but you're afraid of being looked down upon. Your major is computers, which you're not sure is the best choice for social situations.
3⃣️, consider asking for help.
You say, "Perhaps it's been a while since I've met someone I click with, and I'm feeling a bit discouraged. I'm trying to keep a positive outlook, but it's not always easy. I'm hoping someone can offer some guidance and suggest a different approach, so I can find a good friend."
It would be beneficial to address the issue of anxiety.
It seems that you are longing to meet the right person, but so far, you haven't had the opportunity to do so. It's understandable that you might be feeling a bit anxious and insecure in the meantime.
If you could let us know what we can do to help, we'd be happy to assist.
As you are hesitant to share your deepest thoughts with others, you have decided to use this platform to seek advice on how to find a close friend.
2. Potential causes of anxiety
1⃣️, Definition of a friend
Perhaps it would be helpful to define what we mean by the term "friend."
Friends can be defined in many ways and play an important role in our social interactions. Typically, when we think of friends, we tend to associate them with individuals with whom we have formed close connections, regardless of whether they are related to us by blood.
Friends can be of varying degrees of intimacy, from casual acquaintances to close confidants and even soulmates.
Perhaps it would be helpful to narrow down the scope a little.
In the main questioner's narrative, the scope of friends is narrowed to those who know and love each other. This may result in the main questioner framing many people who could potentially become friends with you out of their sight. This could, in turn, lead to a smaller number of friends.
This may have contributed to your feelings of anxiety about making friends.
2⃣️, lack of self-confidence
It would be beneficial to consider the role of self-confidence in this situation.
In psychology, the concept of self-efficacy, proposed by Bandura in his social learning theory, is thought to be the closest thing to self-confidence. This refers to an individual's assessment of their ability to successfully cope with a particular situation.
It could be said that confidence is a natural state of mind that describes a person's social adaptation. This could be defined as the psychological process of unease when a person tries to use their limited experience to grasp this strange world.
It seems that the questioner may lack confidence.
From the description of the questioner, it seems that past life experiences may have led to a lack of confidence. It's understandable that someone who doesn't have many hobbies or achievements to be proud of might feel hesitant to interact with people and get involved in areas where they excel.
This may also be a contributing factor to the questioner's anxiety.
3⃣, social phobia
It might be helpful to consider the concept of social phobia.
Social phobia, also known as social anxiety disorder, is a psychological disorder that is characterized by a person's feeling of obvious fear and anxiety in social situations. Such a person may feel uncertain about how to respond when faced with social behaviors and activities that may cause embarrassment, and may therefore choose to avoid these situations to avoid feeling embarrassed or humiliated.
It would be beneficial to consider the following reasons:
It seems that a lack of self-confidence, excessive self-expectations, and a strong concern for what others think may be the fundamental cause of social anxiety. People with this problem may tend to think the worst of everything, which could lead to feelings of inferiority and anxiety.
3. What to do
1⃣️, gain an understanding of yourself
It would be beneficial to try to understand yourself better.
Gaining an in-depth understanding of oneself is a process that involves exploring one's personality, characteristics, interests and hobbies, range of abilities, areas of expertise, strengths and weaknesses, and other information.
It may be helpful to consider ways of fully leveraging one's strengths.
It is only by understanding ourselves, especially our strengths, that we can play to our strengths and win the favor of others. For example, if the questioner is a computer expert, they can do what they are good at and capable of doing in the field of computers.
It is only through playing to our strengths that we can build self-confidence.
2⃣️, Make friends
Forming friendships
It is not necessarily required that our friends be confidants, as that may be challenging for many people to achieve. What is important is that we can chat with each other to maintain such a friendship.
It would be beneficial to trust others.
As friends, we can build a relationship based on mutual trust, mutual tolerance, and mutual support, while protecting each other's privacy. This allows us to start as ordinary friends, gradually deepen our mutual understanding, and eventually become close friends who can tell each other everything.
3⃣️, learn to communicate
Communication
Communication can be defined as the transmission of information, the process of transmitting and receiving thoughts and feelings between people and between people and groups, with the aim of achieving consensus and emotional fluency.
It would be beneficial to learn to communicate.
It is important to communicate and interact with others in order to survive in society. Learning to communicate is an essential tool for our survival. We choose people we trust and communicate with them openly about a range of topics, including hobbies, life experiences, reading, movies, music, and exercise.
You might also consider starting with strangers. You could greet them, say hello, chat with them, and praise security guards and doormen. You could also discuss parenting, for example. In short, you could work on establishing a communication atmosphere and opening up your social circle.
It would be beneficial to participate in more activities, try to communicate with others, and expand your social circle. This will likely improve our communication skills.
If I might make a suggestion, I believe that by trying, you can exercise yourself, improve your abilities and confidence, and make friends.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish the original poster a happy life!
Comments
I can relate to feeling so isolated when it seems like everyone else has someone. It's tough being in a place where you don't see anyone who truly understands you, especially as a gay man over 30. The loneliness can be overwhelming, and I wish I could help you find that special person who appreciates you for who you are.
It's heartbreaking to feel like the world around you is losing its warmth and empathy. You have so much love to offer, and it's frustrating not knowing where or how to direct it. It's important to remember that your worth isn't diminished by others' negativity, and finding someone who values your friendship will make all the difference.
The fear of criticism can hold us back from pursuing our interests, but maybe there's an online community or a support group where people share similar experiences and hobbies. Starting small, even if anonymously, might ease you into connecting with others who won't look down on you for being new or inexperienced.
Your sensitivity is a strength, not a weakness. In a world that sometimes feels cold, your capacity to care deeply about others is rare and precious. Try to focus on environments where authenticity is celebrated; perhaps through volunteer work or social groups aligned with your values, you'll meet people who appreciate genuine connections.
It's hard to put yourself out there when past experiences have left you wary, but surrounding yourself with positive influences can gradually soften that coldheartedness. Look for spaces that promote understanding and acceptance, whether in person or online, where you can slowly rebuild trust in others and yourself.