There are some things you just can’t control in life, but the people you choose to surround yourself with isn’t one of them. In fact, this is one thing that’s totally up to you, and the decisions you make regarding this have the power to change your life for better or for worse.
There are three types of people you should absolutely have in your corner, and if you’re lucky, you’ll meet certain people who embody all three on their own. But regardless of where you find these qualities, here are the three you absolutely need in your life to make you the best you can possibly be.
Surround yourself with people who support you.
Everyone needs a person to hype them up. One study that involved fourth graders found that the presence of good friends helped kids cope with rejection and stress caused by other classmates. The lesson is: We need people in our lives who make us feel as though we belong and that we know will support us in all situations. Curious whether you have supportive friends in your life? Use our list of tell-all signs!
Traits of a Supportive Friend
- They listen to you.
- They build you up.
- They clap for you (literally and figuratively).
- They’re invested in your goals and are actively involved in helping you reach them.
It really comes down to finding people who have your best interest at heart and who want to see you succeed. As Misty Copeland said, “Anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you.”
Surround yourself with people who inspire you.
It’s likely that you have people in your life that you look up to, whether that’s your parents, a mentor, or even your spouse, but what about your friends? Are they inspiring you to be better, or are they just inspiring you to stay where you’re comfortable? It’s all about finding people who have accomplished things that make you want to accomplish more in your own life. Ready to see if you’re surrounded by inspirational friends? See if they match these characteristics!
Traits of an Inspirational Friend
- They have goals of their own.
- They aren’t in constant competition with others.
- They stand up for themselves and others.
- They’re fun to be around.
Use our list of traits as a starting point, but at the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide the types of people who inspire you, and even more importantly, the ones who don’t. Figuring this out has the potential to change your whole life.
Surround yourself with people who are positive.
It’s hard to live a positive life when you’re hanging out with negative people all the time. Pay attention to how your energy shifts when you get around certain people. If that energy is negative or if you start to get really nervous, ask yourself why that is. Conversely, if you notice that you’re always happy in the presence of someone, you should take note of that as well. Let’s find out if you’re surrounding yourself with positive people by looking at a few key traits.
Traits of a Positive Friend
- They’re kind.
- They’re authentic.
- They have a “glass half full” outlook on life.
- They’re forgiving.
Studies show that the most successful people are positive, so why wouldn’t you want to surround yourself with them? Not only will they help you become more positive yourself, but they’ll also help you reach your goals because of it … sounds like a win-win situation to us!
Who you surround yourself with matters.
We challenge you to evaluate your circle. Are you seeing these three types of people in your current friend group? If so, that’s great! If not, it may be time to make a change in order to better yourself and get closer to your goals. Remember, you control the energy you bring yourself around, so make sure it’s right for you.
Are you ready to get out there and introduce yourself to some new potential friends? Read our blog post on “Breaking Out of Your Comfort Zone.”
