How Positive Friends Can Give You a Positive Life
By: Tori Martin
There’s no denying that a huge part of college is making friends. Who these friends are and how they make you feel has a significant impact on you and your mental health. The people you surround yourself with are important at any point in your life, but especially in the transformative time of young adulthood.
Unfortunately, some relationships can be too strenuous or energy-consuming to maintain. Especially in college, when schedules are busy and stress levels are high, it’s important to recognize when a friendship may not be adding positive value to your life. When you’re surrounded by good people, you are more likely to be less stressed, irritable, and anxious. When relationships are more exhausting than they are rewarding, it can be detrimental to your mental health and can hinder your ability to reach your full potential.
This semester, I have become especially aware of the way people in my life make me feel. Over fall break, four of my best friends and I went to Virginia for a relaxing week in the mountains, and I couldn’t help but notice consistently how energized I felt by being around them. These friends make me laugh and make me feel valued. They call me out on any negative self-talk and always make an effort to listen to me. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had plenty of people enter my life who I haven’t had this positive of a relationship with - and it’s important to recognize the friendships where you’re not getting back what you’re putting in.
So think about your friends and ask yourself:
Do my friends lift me up?
Do they motivate me to achieve?
Do they share my values?
Do they make me feel validated?
Do I feel happy after spending time with them?
If the answer was no to any of these questions, think a little harder about what they are contributing to your life. By learning to focus on the friendships that do make you feel your best, you can concentrate on putting more effort into those relationships.
Today - make a commitment to spend more time with people in your life who make you feel good! You will never regret surrounding yourself with positive energy!
