Choosing Your Friends
(Today, I want to ask you lots of introspective questions and give you lots to think about. After all – that’s what friends do for one another!)
What does friendship mean to you? What kind of friend are you to the people you care about? What kind of friends do you surround yourself with?
For many people, friendships “just happen”. People come in and out of our lives all the time; and some of them stick around as friends.
Jim Rohn once said “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”
I want you to think about your friends and consider that quote. Next, I want you to think about the path you are on in your quest to Choose the Life You Want. Is there a fit?
Are your friends firmly in your corner, supporting you through your evolution?
Or do you have the kind of friends who want you to stay the way you used to be in “the good ole days”?
Do they look at you now and say: “Wow! You’ve really changed! I hardly recognize you anymore!” (said with enthusiasm)?
Or do they look at you now and say “Wow… you’ve really changed! I hardly recognize you anymore!” (said with judgement, suspicion and disapproval)?
As adults, it can be very scary to think about facing the disapproval of old friends. But that fear serves no one. Keeping someone in your life just because they’ve been there for ages, doesn’t serve either of you if you are moving in different directions. People change, people grow and sometimes friends grow apart.
I want to leave you with a quote from Marianne Williamson. Please note the section I’ve bolded.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us, it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
(PS: Are you my “friend” on Facebook?)
My name is Patrick Mathieu and I'm a speaker, author and coach. I developed The Power of Mortality™ and I've been featured in a full-length documentary film and appeared on numerous television and radio programs, including an hour-long interview with Dr. Oz on Oprah & Friends where we discussed my first book and my 
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Beautifully said. My 13 year old daughter and her friend were talking to me about their “friendship” dramas at school just this morning! They have concerns about friends who try to bring other friends down… by name calling, talking behind their backs, making “hate pacts”… if they only understood that by being a supportive friend they bring themselves up (and the entire group). They can rule the world if they’re not fighting with each other.
I pulled out the mom line “you should realize that those girls probably don’t have the support and self esteem that you have”. They got it (smart girls).
Anyway, this is just another example of me suggesting you do some work for kids/teens… your messages are vital for us to raise fearless, focused kids. I’m expecting that as yours get older, you’ll have much more to say on teenagers.
Blessings to you as always my supportive shining friend!
I have always found friendships difficult to navigate. I can only manage a few friendships at a time and I used to think this reflected poorly on me as a person. Now, though, I am coming to realize that it is far better to nurture the good relationships and let the negative ones run their course. Great food for thought, Patrick!
I enjoyed this one. I have realized for years that if it wasn’t for my family and special friends I wouldn’t be as strong of a person as I am today.My relatives all live out west and so I have found out who I can really surround myself with to keep me strong. You have made me rethink about how lucky I really am to be so blessed to have the right people around to comfort you and support you at all times. Keep up the good work!