Greetings Everyone!
Spring seems to have finally won the battle over winter. For the first time in many months, I am writing this blog whilst my door wall is open letting in sunshine and a fresh springtime breeze. I must admit it feels really nice after the unrelenting winter we experienced this year. Now that spring is here, it may be time to start thinking about trimming the hedges. However, the traditional dark-green shrubbery in your front yard is not what I am referring to. What I am eluding to is trimming down the negative influences in your social life.
Spring is synonymous with growth. When we observe grass turning green and trees sprouting leaves, it can inspire growth in our emotional and social lives. Once the weather breaks, many feel it is time to turn over a new leaf to start improving their lives. This could come in the form of spring cleaning, starting a new exercise plan, or changing unhealthy eating habits. Consider this; how about looking at your social circle to determine who is healthy for you and who is not?
Hopefully, you have some people in your life who are inspiring and supportive, people who challenge you to be a better person and also let you know when you are going down an unhealthy path. These are the types of people you should try to keep in your life. Spending the majority of your time around these people will have a positive affect on your life and you will feel energized, loved and supported.
How about the people in your life that are having a negative influence you? We all struggle with people in our lives at times that have a negative effect on us. If you find yourself engaging in unhealthy thoughts or behavior when hanging around with certain people, there is a good chance that the relationship has an unhealthy dynamic. If the people you are associating with are causing you to compromise your morals and ethics or stunting your growth, you might want want to consider:
1) Asking yourself if the problem lies within you, the other person, or the relationship itself.
2) Having a discussion. If the problem lies within the other person or within the relationship itself, then consider having an open and honest discussion with the other person to see if you can make some positive changes.
3) Terminating the relationship. Sometimes this is the only healthy choice. If you have tried having an honest discussion with the other person to no avail and you feel the unhealthy dynamics will not change, then it comes down to determining what you value more; the unhealthy relationship or your own growth as an individual.
Trimming and pruning hedges is what shapes them and encourages healthy and dense growth. If you are looking to grow emotionally and socially or are frustrated with your lack of growth, eliminating or limiting contact with negative influences in your life may be something to look into.
In my next post, I will be discussing how your current relationship dynamics with other people in your life are affected when you decide to make positive changes to your own life.
If you are looking for help with emotional, psychological or relationship issues, please contact me for more information. You can view my website and contact info here: thoughtperspectives.com. Feel free to like my Facebook page here and follow me on Twitter here. I look forward to providing any help I can in making your lives more satisfying and worthwhile.
Sincerely,
Nathan M. Comerford, MA, LPC, NCC
