February 23rd, 2017

5 Reasons You Want to Have the Right Friends In Your Corner 

​In boxing when both opponents go to the sidelines to recuperate, they have their entourage to encourage, uplift and ensure their stability. You are a boxer in the rough game of life and your entourage should be just as strong. If there was someone apart of a boxer’s team that didn’t contribute to getting them getting that belt I can guarantee that person wouldn't be there for much longer. You should be just as selective and critical about your entourage, especially if you want to achieve the belt and become a heavy weight in life. (of course I mean that in the most figurative way possible, because we all wanna be snatched and tight…not overweight). So if this boxing analogy wasn’t enough reason to be more picky about who you allow into your circle perhaps some further explanation will. 

1. Friends Can Hold You Back. Sometimes people are in your circle and they are doing you no good. This is not to shade anyone because sometimes neither one of you realize that its happening. If you have friends that are constantly holding you back, there’s no way you can progress. Maintaining these types of dysfunctional relationships will be like playing a board game where you always land on ‘go back 2 spaces’. Its fun, and even though your progress is being impeded on its “not that bad” because you get some laughs a long the way. Let me be the first to tell you, it is that bad. Anyone who isn’t contributing to your growth in some way, isn’t someone you want to be associating with closely. If they aren't contributing positively then there is a slight chance they can be nurturing unwanted negativity - the very negativity we should avoid when seeking growth. 

 

1. Friends Can Influence & Inspire You. Everyone has someone they look up to - whether it is an older sibling, celebrity, or a parent. When you surround yourself with kings and queens your role models can be the very people you call friends, what’s better than that? If your friends are focused and on a path somewhere you can’t help but to respect their hustle. If you were smart you would recognize their moves and understand that for you to progress you need to focus on your path just as they do there’s. After all, you wouldn’t want your friends to glow up with out you, now would you? Each person has their own toolbox to aid in what they are trying to build, but if you have no concept or blueprint you probably won’t even have tools. You want to surround yourself with people who have tools or they could very well lead you to a tool-less life as well. When choosing the right company - those who have a clear path - you can use each other as a motivation and even as resources. When you see those you love doing great things its only natural that you recognize the same greatness in yourself. Let your friends excellence rub off on you. 

 

1. Friends Who Don’t Have A Path or Vision Can’t Respect Yours. Every organism on earth has a purpose. Unfortunately, not every being taps into that purpose. As someone with a concept of purpose and the goals to reach yours, you do not want to be caught up with those who have no concept of greater reasons for existence. Associating with people who aren’t interested in purpose could have several potential affects 1. They will ignore your growth and the growth of others similar to you 2. They will make light of your growth and the pursuance of your goals by joking about it and trying to make it seem trivial or silly OR 3. Discourage you with negativity. You can’t expect someone who doesn’t have your vision, or a vision of their own, understand why you make the decisions you do today to affect your tomorrow. Plus, we all know the saying misery loves company. Sometimes the “friends” that are holding you back are unaware however there are times when they are intentionally malicious and demons in disguise. They want you to be just as purposeless as you are so don’t let them dull your shine baby girl. Don’t expect them to understand why you do what you do, they won’t get it and its fine because they don’t have to. 

 

1. Friends Who Don’t Know Where They Are Going Can’t Lead You To Greatness.  Let’s say you are not yet at the place where you know what you want to do, who you want to be, and why you want to be that. We all get to our enlightenment at different times, in different ways so that’s not the issue. The issue is, if you don’t know and your friends don’t know you all are going to be two people floating around with no direction and no clue. Think of it as a cross country road trip with no GPS. You may have heard the route but you’re not exactly sure so you're bound to get lost one way or another.

 

1. Friends Who Are In Need Will Drain Your Energy. As mentioned in #4, if your friends don’t know where they are going you being the amazing person you are, you will feel so inclined to be of help to them. While this is honorable, helping someone find their purpose in life while you are still trying to solidify yours is a full time job with overtime! Especially if that person isn’t as interested in their well-being as you are. It is your duty as a friend to be of help and a shoulder to lean on but if you aren’t whole yourself you can’t possibly help someone else. These are your selfish years after all and no one - friends, family, significant others - should be allowed to steal the energy you have to invest in self for any reason. 

If nothing else treat your circle like you would treat your weave: selective of the quality, keep it tight and take extra care to keep it healthy. No matter how many times it is debated, the people you hang around not only influence you but also reflect you. With the right people by your side you can go nowhere but up because they won’t let you fall by the way side. They know the value of vision. They know the value of purpose and they know the value of you and will never let you forget it. Drake said it best, “its good to make it, better when your people make it with you.”