The people we surround ourselves with have a profound impact on our lives.
This was something that was instilled in me by my mother, who had a gift of intuition that helped her see people in ways they couldn’t see themselves. She used to say, “tell me who your friends are, and I will tell you who you want to be.” Her words have stayed with me throughout my life, and I have realized the truth in them.
After my divorce, I learned this lesson firsthand when I decided to lose 35 pounds and give up alcohol. While my friends congratulated me on my weight loss, one of them teased me for not having a beer. That moment made me realize the importance of surrounding myself with people who supported my goals and values. I became very selective about the people I spent time with, and it led to some of my so-called friends falling away. However, it also resulted in me becoming a better version of myself and creating healthier relationships.
I’ve always loved Michelangelo’s Prisoners, which are unfinished marble sculptures that he believed already contained a beautiful masterpiece waiting to be released. He saw his job as chipping away the excess marble to reveal the hidden potential. In the same way, we all have the potential for greatness within us, but it takes the right company to help us bring it out.
It’s easy to get comfortable with the people we already know, but if we want to grow and become the best version of ourselves, we need to be around people who challenge and sharpen us in every aspect of our lives. It’s better to be the “dumbest kid in MENSA than the smartest kid of underachievers.” Iron sharpens iron, and we need to surround ourselves with people who help us become the masterpiece we are meant to be.
So, ask yourself, are your friends and associates helping you become the best part of yourself?
Who challenges you to be your best self and meet your goals? Do they support your vision, goals, and core values? If you find that everyone around you agrees with you and you’re the smartest, best-looking, and healthiest person in the room, it’s time to find new friends. The company we keep can make or break us, so choose wisely. Remember, tell me who your friends are, and I will tell you who you want to be.
