Tony Robbins said, “The quality of a person’s life is most often a direct reflection of the expectations of their peer group.” That matters because you choose your friends. No one forces you into those relationships.
Humans naturally mirror those around us. The people we surround ourselves with influence how we think, act, and even view the world. It’s just part of who we are. That’s why the saying, “One bad apple spoils the whole bunch,” rings so true in relationships. If one person in your group brings negativity or bad habits, it can easily spread to everyone else. Similarly, if someone you are hanging out with practices good habits you might be inclined to do the same. For example, if you have a friend who is really positive and doesn’t act judgemental or lazy, you might be inspired to give that same energy back to them and to others. Junior Hope Edwards (11) shares, “Spending time with people in my classes who do good helps me do better on tests and I learn ways that they are successful in the class.”
When you become close to someone, you open up to them. You allow yourself to be vulnerable. And in doing so, you start to see them in a different light—through the lens of friendship and trust. But that new light can be blinding. It can stop you from seeing things as they really are. You might ignore red flags, unhealthy behaviors, or warning signs, just because you care. Sometimes, it’s better to be alone than to keep a friendship that is slowly changing you into someone you don’t like. And often, you won’t even realize you’re changing. A good way to check is by asking yourself how others view your “friend.” Because chances are, that’s how others are starting to see you, too.
Think of it this way: If you see a group of people smoking, your instinct tells you all of them smoke. Now imagine your whole group starts using drugs. Something you once thought you’d never do suddenly becomes less shocking. You see your friends take it lightly, so your thinking shifts. Peer pressure isn’t always obvious. It can be slow, even silent. But powerful.Expert Andrew Mills once said, “Relationships are the most powerful force on the planet—and we sometimes dismiss them.” Science backs that up. Studies show that one of the most important factors in living a happy, fulfilled life is having strong, positive relationships.
An article about friendship statistics states, Friendships contribute to personal well-being, mental health, and overall life satisfaction. Mckenzi Reiter (11) expresses, “I love spending time with my friends and they make life better when I am around them.” Therefore, I encourage you to take a closer look into who you are choosing to spend your time with because they could be the reason for how things go in your life or could go in your future. One businessman put it simply: Spend time with people who are more successful than you. Their mindset will rub off. Their habits will shape yours. Their success can lead you to your own. You become like the company you keep—surround yourself with four, and you’ll be the next, surround yourself with four slackers, and you’ll be the next
