A Change of Pace

Someone recently told me, not everyone that asks how are you cares for the answer. Hearing this spoke volumes to me. When someone shows you who they are, their true colors, do not try to paint a prettier picture of them. Believe them the first time. I know it is difficult because we often want to overlook the small details, but sometimes it's the small things that tell you more about a person than what they are presenting. Which involves a lot of awareness of who you surround yourself with. The people you spend most of your time with are there to uplift you, add joy to your life and love you unconditionally. However, that doesn't always happen, sometimes we get a few people in our lives that do the complete opposite of what we'd like. And sometimes we are those people that do not add to other people but take. I know sometimes it's easier to place blame everywhere but yourself, because it's easier to give someone the responsibility of the relationship ending or causing harm. Knowing where you have faulted, have issues, or maybe the bad friend, and taking full responsibility puts you one step closer to being a better person.

Choose your friends, partners, and anyone you choose to be surrounded by wisely. Instead of looking at how this person has fun, how they dress, or how many followers they have on Instagram. Look into the things that make them who they are. Their foundation, principles, values, morals, and reasoning. Then ask yourself if this person is grounded. Can this person elevate me or drag me down? But, also check yourself. Do you have the right mental and emotional capacity to maintain this new relationship? How are your values and principles? Are you grounded? Knowing and understanding these factors makes a relationship last because relationships are not one-way streets where only one person does the work but a job for both parties.

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Stop for a moment and look at your relationships, answer these questions and if the answer is not what you'd like, it's time to make some changes in your life.

1. Are they helping you or hindering you?

2. Are your relationships enhancing your well-being or exhausting you?

3. How can you work on becoming a better version of yourself?

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