Truer Words Were Never Spoken

(This was given to me yesterday at work but the author is unknown.)

The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve.  Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity.  An important attribute in successful people is their impatience with negative thinking and negative acting people.  As you grow, your associates will change.  Some of your friends will not want you to go on.  They will want you to stay where they are.  Friends that don’t help you climb will want you to crawl.  Your friends will stretch your vision or choke your dream.  Those that don’t increase you will eventually decrease you.

Consider this:  Never receive counsel from unproductive people.

Never discuss your problems with someone incapable of contributing to the solution, because those who never succeed themselves are always first to tell you how.  Not everyone has a right to speak into your life.  You are certain to get the worst of the bargain when you exchange ideas with the wrong person.  Don’t follow anyone who’s not going anywhere.  With some people you spend an evening: with others you invest it.  Be careful where you stop to inquire for directions along the road of life.  Wise is the person who fortifies his life with the right friendships.  If you run with wolves, you will learn how to howl.  But, if you associate with eagles, you will learn how to soar to great heights.  “A mirror reflects a man’s face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses.”  The simple but true fact of life is that you become like those with whom you closely associate—for the good and the bad.

Note: Be not mistaken.  This is applicable to family as well as friends.  Yes…do love, appreciate and be thankful for your family, for they will always be your first and though they are family to you, they may be a friend to someone else and will fit somewhere in the criteria above.

My Reaction:

This unknown piece of literature hits home in so many ways.  I thank the Most High for allowing me to be an “Individual” and not someone who tries or needs to be a follower.  The word “Individual” is something that we should all express within ourselves, but that doesn’t always hold true. 

I’ve had “Friends” and “Family” that doubt my abilities or talents but that doesn’t stop my progress.  It only adds fuel to the fire.  Being doubted has always given me the chance to prove naysayers wrong.  Without doubtful people, the artist doesn’t exist.  Fans and Haters are joined in unison to give balance like a seesaw.  It keeps me Humble, but at the same time, Motivated.  It keeps me grounded on the task at hand.

Another thing I wanted to discuss is when the unknown author stated “Never receive counsel from unproductive people.”  Just last week I posted something on my Facebook status that was similar.  It’s amazing how some people can give the best advice on relationships or life in general but you can see how they aren’t living by their own words.  It seems like out of the blue, everybody is a counselor or psychologist without obtaining the proper documents, without the education, without the Resume to highlight their achievements in the field that they seem to be practicing. 

I’m at work and need to help a student, so until next time, be safe and don’t forget to subscribe to my blog.

Sincerely,

Varrsity