Surround Yourself With Positive People

By Amanda Pasciucco, MFT at Therapy by Amanda, LLC

Do you know the saying "misery loves company?" Think about the people who you currently surround yourself with. What are they like? Joyous, happy, and filled with life? Depressed, anxious, or pessimistic? When you look to the people around you, realize that these people are a reflection of and reflect on you. The people you associate with, the way they live, their attitudes, and their style of living have an extreme influence on your attitude and actions.

It's extremely important to surround yourself with positive people and people who you aspire to be like. If you surround yourself with people who are negative, do not support you, and do not value themselves, they will also hold you back. Although you may not be consciously aware of it, these people will have a dramatic affect on your mindset. You only have so much of yourself to give, so why not give of yourself to people who will nurture your continual growth?

Being around positive people will make you feel good! Positive people are there to offer you emotional support and encouragement. When people view the world positively, they see life as a gift and strive to make the most of what they have. This quality will spread to you if you also begin to associate with people who think positively. Unlike complainers, positive people are always looking for joy within life, even when they are going through a tough time.

Research shows that people who are positive or associate with positive people are actually healthier and more successful financially. When you are with encouraging people, your stress decreases, and you will be able to relax more. With low levels of stress, your body will actually be physically healthier. When you surround yourself with positive people, they will make your life more fun and actually "pump" you up. They will actually give you the energy you need to accomplish your goals. Similarly, positive people are more likely to get job recognition and promotions, thus making them more financially successful.

Watch out for "chronic complainers." These people constantly moan about their problems and will wear you down with their negativity. People who constantly complain want others to absorb their negative energy and take on some of their negativity. Make sure you set an example for these types of people by sending them positive messages instead of getting sucked into their depressed moods.

The key to success can be found through positive people who appreciate life and being happy. These people like to live in the moment and get joy from helping others. If you begin to surround yourself with people like this, you will see that you begin to improve the quality of your own life. Since the people who you choose to be around have a tremendous impact on your moods, it is okay to be picky when choosing friends. Even if you tend to be a negative person, being around people who are positive will help you alter the way you live your life.

Rather than getting what you give, give what you get. When you surround yourself with negative people and continuously get negativity, you start to give negativity. Surround yourself with people who are positive, and you will give positive energy to those around you.

Therefore, the tip of the week is: seek out people in your life who exude positivity.