Copy, Cut & Paste

Let’s be honest. While we’d like to bring everyone along for the entire ride, people come in and out of our lives for a reason. Some are here until our last days on this beautiful earth, some just for a season, and as harsh as it may sound, some only for tomorrow. It’s our responsibility to figure out which people are here for the long haul and who’s going to be around short term. Everyone has a purpose. Taking inventory of the people in your life is vital in the personal growth of yourself and others. Following are a few helpful tips for managing these various relationships:

Copy: Do you believe it when people say that the company you keep is a direction reflection of you and where you’re going in life? I do! Pull traits from the positive people around you and apply them to your life. If one of your friends is extremely focused and the other extremely creative, pull those character traits together and be inspired by them.  We’re all here to learn from each other in some way. Inspire and be inspired. Relationships are give and take.

Cut: This may be one of the most challenging steps when it comes to personal growth but it’s a necessary element to leading a healthy and successful life. Do you have an old friend who’s literally doing the same counterproductive things he/she was doing a decade ago? What about the “Debbie Downer” in your life who just can’t grasp being positive and has now become toxic to your mental health? Knowing when someone’s season has ended is critical to both parties. Holding on to relationships past their expiration date is only stunting your growth and crippling the other person as well. I’m definitely not condoning abrupt endings to relationships but sometimes all you can do is wish them the best, head down your individual paths, and love them from a distance.

Paste: Now that you’ve removed any negative or unsupportive people out of your life, it’s time to paste the right people in. Surround yourself with people who inspire you and feed into your ultimate goal. Create a positive circle of friends who want to see you succeed (and vice-versa) and will help you stay on track, even when you feel like quitting.

As much as technology sometimes pulls away from true social connections, it also serves as an example for what we need to do in real life. You are who you attract so make sure your inner circle is a true reflection of your values and purpose. Copy, cut, and paste!

Miracles & Blessings,

Ellisa Oyewo