Self-Care Means Being Selective About The People You Let Into Your Life

Nov 10, 2018 by apost team

Everyone wants to take care of themselves in a more successful manner. Even those who understand their lack of self-care desire to improve. Nobody enjoys sabotaging themselves or bringing unnecessary pain and discomfort into their lives.

In fact, it is usually this pain that leads people down the road of responsibility and self-care. People are moved by the idea that a better life is a few personal decisions away.

When people think about self-care, there are a few specific things that often come to mind. Relaxation, meditation and exercise are some of the most closely associated activities with self-care.

While all of these activities can certainly improve a person's life, there is one idea that tends to get overlooked. Being selective about who you spend time with is another major aspect of practicing self-care.

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Many people don't realize how their friends and family can have a huge impact on their live overall. Jim Rohn, a famous speaker, has a powerful quote that says:

"You're the average of the five people you spend the most time with".

While this quote is simplistic and may represent some flawed mathematics, the general concept behind the adage is true. The people we spend the most time with will end up being the most influential people in our lives.

While having a large group of friends is perfectly healthy, it can be more difficult to keep tabs on how each friend is influencing your life. Having a smaller, closer-knit group of friends may be a better way to go.

It is always more important to have a quality group of friends rather than focusing on quantity. One great friend who positively impacts your life is worth infinitely more than one hundred friends who don't have anything positive to offer.

There is helpful exercise that anyone practicing self-care should consider. Every few months or so, take a piece of paper and split it into two columns. On the left-hand side write 'People who invigorate me', and write 'People who deplete me' on the right. Start categorizing all of your friends and acquaintances into one of these two categories. Consider how each person makes you feel and decide if they are a positive or negative influence on your life.

This may sound like a harsh way to deal with less-than-ideal friends, but you have to look at the overall picture.

There is no point in spending valuable time and energy on friends who are dragging you down or not contributing to your goals.

Self-care is about making tough decisions that will contribute to your overall health and happiness in the future. That may require making some sacrifices in the present in order to achieve those goals.

Do you know someone who is big on self-care? Show them this article! Don't forget to let us know your experience with toxic people in the comments.