You’re an Average of Your Closest Friends

Have you ever sat back and looked at the five closest people to you? Chances are you haven’t. Professionals in the pychology field claim that we are an average of the five closest people that we hang out with. I never really thought about it until I saw a few things develop from afar.

The old saying, “Misery loves company” is very true. Have you ever watched someone who seemed to have a good life throw it out the window because they surrounded themselves with the wrong people? I’ve seen it time and time again over the course of my life. People who carry negative emotions around try to draw people into their world so they don’t feel alone. People with low self esteem are usually the first to go. They don’t have enough confidence in their own decisions, so they allow themselves to be drawn into something that gives them acceptance. Instead of seeing the positive, they go to the negative because they feel it gives them more power. It makes them feel better about their own lives because they see other people in the same place. It’s very hard to analyze if you’ve never seen it.

Yesterday I spent the day with one of my closest friends. We had a good time and the day passed quickly. On my drive home I realized how fortunate I have been with my choice of friends. We are all given choices and in the end we are all responsible for the choices that we make.  If you like hanging out in bars then the likelihood of you being friends with the same type of people is very good. I don’t like to stereotype, but people who find themselves drawn to the bar week after week are usually searching for some deep meaning that doesn’t really exist. They think they can erase all of their pain and misery by sloshing down one drink after another. Many times it is painful to watch if someone close to you gets caught up in the hoopla. I’ve watched some good friends become so involved in the party atmosphere that they lost the reality of their own purpose.

I’ve always tried to surround myself with people who give off a positive aura. I like people who bring out the best in me and make me relax. I find myself drawn to people that are a little more outgoing because it makes it easier for me to walk in line without being noticed. I’m never in need of attention so it helps when the attention is centered on someone else. My closest friends share many of the same hobbies that I do. I’ve always tried to share my passion of archery with others. If I can teach someone something that took me years to learn I will teach them just to save them time. A good life is about giving and receiving in equal balance. If you give enough of yourself you will also receive the support you need when you need it most. I saw it first hand when I struggled to get from one day to the next a few years ago. At that point I was glad that I had given so much of myself to so many people.

If you’re cruising through life and you’re having issues try to look at the closest people to you. If you like who they are and what they’re about, chances are that you are on the right track. If you have to question their moral standards then you had better get away while you can. Sometimes if you get drawn in your world can become a living hell. I’m extremely thankful that I’ve always stayed on the straight and narrow path in front of me.

I get depressed from time to time just like anyone, but I also have a positive outlook on almost everything in front of me. I gain this from my friends and family. Without their moral support and guidance I’m sure that my life would be vastly different. Many people want to be a star, but I’m happy just being the average of all of the people that have helped me develop into the person that I am today.

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