5 Reasons why the friends you keep are responsible for your success

Follow up with friends
 
 Hi,
 
 So I did my first blog entry this week, quite nerve wreaking when you think you write something, and putting it out there for the whole world to see.
 
 For those of you who have read it, thanks, and thanks for bearing with the mistakes. I saw a few of them this morning, which I fixed. It is a learning curve for me, but truly exciting. I think I might be addicted!
 
 Well, at least it is a good kind of addiction. But you become addicted to the things that make you feel good. I have come to believe that that is the key of life. Surround yourself with things that make you feel good, things that make you happy, things that inspire you.
 
 Well my positive addiction, (besides debating and playing devil’s advocate, which may not always be positive I might add) is surrounding myself with positive people. I have the best, ‘full of life’ friends, people that understand my argumentative personality. My best friend that turned into my husband, I have colleagues that have turned in to friends, but most important, I only have a hand full of good friends. I have realised early in life that it is about the quality of the people that surround you, not the quantity.
 

 “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Is a quote by Jim Rohn, and words that I have seen come to life as life throws his curve balls and categorise your friends into the ones you need to keep and the ones you need to let go. Your friends influence your life immensely, whether it is your life spiritually, financially or physically. Now this brings me to, how these people influence your life.
 
  5 Reasons why the friends you keep are responsible for your success:
 
 1. They are the driving force behind your motivation.
 
 Whether it is intentional or not, people look at their friends and feel envious of what they have or where they have been or what they do. Whether they motivate you by creating a; “I wish I could also earn that salary” statement or whether it is “I never want to have that worries” statement, they plant the seed that make you want put the effort in to the daily things you do.
 
 2. Good friend will keep you positive
 
 When you are in a bad mood, or had a bad day, they will be the ones trying to lift your spirits. Making funny jokes, helping you find a solution or just keeping you company when you are stuck in a rut.
 
 3. Friends create a sense of belonging
 
 You feel at home when you are with them. You are comfortable in your own skin around them and that creates increased self-worth. Psychological Bulletin found that positivity is linked to positive perception of yourself and others. It increases performance, your creativity and problem solving and overall success.
 
 4. People skills
 
 People teach you about people. As in my previous entry, 10 Reasons why you must test your personality, I wrote about the importance of knowing yourself but also others. The personality test is the theory, the friends you make and the friends you keep around is a daily practice of those skills. You learn how to react to situations and to the different people in their very different environments. This creates success as people don’t manage a business, they manage people.
 
 5. They keep you sane.
 
 They might sometimes drive you insane, but a shoulder to cry on or a gym buddy to vent to, or even a cocktail buddy to help you drown your sorrows will help you face another day.
 
 Surround yourself with people that make you want to better yourself (they have to be people you like, don’t waste time on people that don’t share your groove)
 
 Thank the good friends around you for the positive influence they have on your life. The bad friends you ask? Thank them, as they have also created who you are. If you are not happy with whom you have become, change to the authentic you. Then surround yourself with friends that keep you positive. Friends that are such a good influence on your life, that you become addicted to their presence.  
 
 “Associate only with positive, focused people who you can learn from and who will not drain your valuable energy with uninspiring attitudes. By developing relationships with those committed to constant improvement and the pursuit of the best that life has to offer, you will have plenty of company on your path to the top of whatever mountain you seek to climb.” – Robin Sharma
 
 
 Ps. I have new exciting ventures and blog posts coming soon, so please subscribe to my blog below. It’s free.
 
 
 Love,

Lindi