I am Diya Gandhi, and this is the second installment of my self-help series: Becoming your best self. In this section, I will be sharing the value of maintaining good company.
Keeping good company is fundamental in life, because the people around you can influence you completely. Whether in a good or bad way, it is important to recognize who you are surrounding yourself with.
This can include anyone in your life. For example, friends, partners, family members, and even co-workers.
Sometimes, we become so used to the people around us that we end up disregarding the relationships we are keeping, making it hard to tell if a person is actually someone you want to be around. To gain awareness, we have to step back once in a while and observe our lives externally.
As said by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Health isn’t just about what goes on inside you. Your everyday surroundings can have a major impact on who you are and how you feel — even when you’re not thinking about them. Your external circumstances contribute to your internal levels of happiness or sadness, relaxation or stress.”
Think about all the people in your life. Then think about your values and morals. Ask yourself: do these people fit into my standards? Are they setting a good example for me? Or do they act in a way that doesn’t seem to align?
If you are having trouble figuring out if someone is good for you, pay attention to how you feel after you spend time with them.
Feeling energetic and enthusiastic with someone shows that the relationship is fulfilling and healthy. However, if you feel drained and dispirited, that may mean you need to let go of the relationship. Feeling tired and bad about yourself is a key signal that this person is not meant for you.
Obviously, there are situations where it is nearly impossible to drift away from someone. If you live with a family member or see a co-worker everyday, you may not be able to distance yourself. In this situation, it is important to set as many boundaries as possible and not keep them too close, also ensuring that you aren’t letting their actions affect you too much.
However, if you feel that it is manageable to let go of someone that is influencing you in the wrong way, the best way to do this is to slowly let go of them. It may be a difficult process, but in the end, it will be worth it in order for you to be happier and healthier; ultimately, it will lead you to become the best version of you.
