Friendship
Summer has arrived as of today and temperatures reflect the changing of the season. The weeks seem to rush by so quickly, and as fast as the seasons come and go, so does your life. That is why it is so crucial to live your legacy each day so that your life will have a significant impact on your world.
Summer is a time for picnics, swimming, camping, vacations, and family reunions. You may find yourself around different groups of friends and family with their influences. Sometimes this can be good; other times, not so much.
The value of surrounding yourself with the right friends is immeasurably awesome. The danger of surrounding yourself with the wrong friends can be devastating. Perhaps a good theme might be “Friendship in proportion to the right personal growth from that friendship.”
As my mentor Jim Rohn is quoted as saying, “You are the average of the five people that you spend the most time with.” If this is in fact the case, then you need to analyze who you invest the most time with and how they are influencing you in any or all areas of life. If you do not like what you discover, then you need to begin the process of change. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you can change other people to be what you want them to be. It is difficult enough to change yourself and impossible to change others.
You may be able to positively impact others to change their mindset. But beware that it is a slow process, and they have to choose to change. You must be very careful if you choose to associate with those who may negatively impact you in any manner. As 1 Corinthians 10:12 reminds us, “If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.”
I feel strongly that this also applies to our mindset. You become what you dwell on in your minds. All of our minds are impacted significantly by those that we invest a lot of time with. Although it may be hard to distance yourself from negative influences, it is imperative. This does not mean you shun or alienate others, but realizing that anything that impacts you negatively should be minimized. It is your responsibility to maximize your God-given potential as Ephesians 5:15 tells us, “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.”