We need to have people in our lives that are a positive influence. Our peeps–the people we hang around, not chick-shaped marshmallows–effect us in many different ways. They will often either help us or hinder us in living our calling.
Take some time today to evaluate the people you spend time with. Following is a list of ways the people in our lives may be a positive influence or a negative influence on us.
They:
- Put us or other people down, or use their words to build people up
- Point out what’s going wrong. or talk about what’s good and what’s going right
- Always expect the worst, or are both positive and realistic at the same time
- Complain with no interest in making things better, or are solution-oriented and want to make things work
- Consistently put their wants and needs above those of other people, or display a genuine concern for us and our well-being
- Quick to point out any limitations, or explore and share possibilities
- Focus on what they can get from us and other people, or share of themselves
- Don’t see the value of personal development, or encourage us to grow as they, too, work to improve themselves
- Blame their problems on other people and circumstances, or ake responsibility for their choices and the consequences of those choices
- Assume the worst about other people’s motives and intentions, or are compassionate and give people the benefit of the doubt
Considering these criteria, are your peeps a positive influence? Are they going to support you in getting where you want to go in life? Or do you need to make some adjustments in who you’re spending your time with?
