Be Cautious Of The Kind Of Acquaintances And Friends Your Keep

It is true that no one can make it absolutely without the input of others, especially of your friends and acquaintances. However, one can also be marred by their friends. You will be surprised how many people have drifted off to the wrong path simply because they kept the wrong company. The power that your friends have to influence your actions is enormous. As much as you can be made by your friends, you can also be marred if you keep the wrong friends.

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You have to understand that everyone is not supposed to be your friend, so do not be forced into friendship with anyone - it has to come from a place of choice and willingness. While choosing friends, you have to take a look at where you are going and then consider someone that is also enroute in that particular way, not someone that is going in opposite route that may drag your back. If your friends are not making you to go forward, then they are already drawing you back. Obviously, no friend leaves you exactly the same manner in which they met you, there will definitely be an influence that is created in you by them - either positive or negative.

If your friend is not adding positively to you, then it is of your own interest to make a choice to leave. Remember that your future is more important than momentary friendship that will not add positively to you. A friend once narrated to me how she picked up a particular bad habit. During her early days in the university, she shared hostel room with a roommate that was engaged in that particular habit. She became friends with her and she started indoctrinating her into it. At first, she did not consent, but after a while of persuasion, she gave in. Now, that particular habit has become a major challenge to her and she is now trying so hard to stop it.

Some people may think that they can make friends with bad people and then change them for good. Well, surprisingly, the chance of them compromising you may be stronger than your chances to influence them positively, so you better stay clear. The truth is that you may not be able to change the nature of your friend, but you can change them from being your friend. Good friendship is an asset that should be treasured. Many people have achieved unimaginable success by keeping friends with people that are geared towards success. Just like this quote from the Holy Book says:

Iron sharpens iron

The major part of the things that happen to someone is related to the kind of company and friends that they keep. If you will not like your life to ultimately resemble the life of a particular person, it will be unwise to have that person as your best friend. When I was much younger, I normally travelled to the village during the vacation. In one of the occasions, I joined my grandma to cook with firewood. When I left the kitchen, I went straight to visit someone. As soon as I entered, the first question he asked was if I was from the kitchen, because my whole body smelled of firewood. Obviously When you stay too close to an open flame, there is a tendency that you will pick up the smell of flame. In the same way, when you stay around certain people, you tend to pick up their personality.

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There is a reason why fire and water cannot coexist. This is also the same reason why ice and heat do not stay together - because they are not compatible. You need to check and observe compatibility before you go into friendship, not just because you want to. However, one thing is that as you are looking out for a worthy friend, you too much also be worthy. Whatever you want in your friend, you should also possess the same requirement. To get a good friend, you should prove yourself as worthy of the good friend, which starts by being friendly.

As much as you will not want to keep company with the wrong friend, also do not be the wrong friend for someone else. You have to first ask yourself if you are worthy of the friendship that you are looking for. People are also cautious of their friendship, not just you, and they tend to make friends with people of the same personality. This is in affirmation of this quote:

Birds of like feathers fly together.

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