Take friendships slowly so that you don't become overly attached right away, before the person shows their true self.

There are good people out there who won't hide themselves from the beginning. Well, I guess we all put our best foot forward at first as it's just natural to not trust others when we first meet them.

Just be on the lookout for red flags. If something odd pops up, examine the situation to determine if it's something you can accept in a friendship. Just remember that nobody is perfect and we all have our own issues that we deal with.