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I am going to encourage you to follow Nancy Delay's blog as well! She's got some great insights! Here is her post from yesterday:

 

warrior-women.com

Yesterday, May 24, 2010, 8:44:14 AM

Who do you surround yourself with?

Yesterday, May 24, 2010, 8:44:14 AM | Nancy Delay

You likely grew up hearing people provide cautionary notes about who you choose to hang out with.  The fact is, in order to live your best life, examining who you are surrounding yourself with is an important part of the process.  Who are you allowing into your life and what role do they play?  When you interact with these people do they reflect your core values?  Do they help you live in alignment with your core values?  And, what do you do when you are faced with people who do not reflect your core values?

Begin by examining those closest relationships you have.  Are the interactions healthy (i.e. NO drama)? Do you practice your core values with these people?  By the way . . . do you even know what your core values are?  If not – you must begin your journey there.  Being crystal clear about your core values and aligning your behavior around these is the heart of life.  In your heart of heart; uninfluenced by the pain, the wounds and hurts you have received in life – deep in there, are your core values.  Take the time to determine what they are and begin aligning your behavior – AND, your relationships to them.

So, I can hear you thinking – well the "world" doesn't live by my values – how can I do this?  At the risk of sounding like a bit of an old hippy – change begins with ONE individual. . . seriously.  So, here's the deal for me personally (and I believe this to be universal).  I can only control the things I think and do, not how others think and act.   This bears repeating . . . I can only control the things I think and do.  This is a choice, a choice that needs to be made every day.

I choose to interact with integrity, honesty and compassion.  Not always easy – so, it's a practice.  I like to surround myself with people who can be a mirror for me, this reminds to align with my basic principles and values.  For example my interactions with Sara remind me not to be too harsh, Jim reminds me of the value of humility and Jeff  keeps me in touch with the passion for what do.  I am grateful to have many such friends who, maybe unknowingly to them, very much influence me to live my best life.  When I pay attention to who I am surrounding myself with, my life flows so much more easily.  So, while many choices and actions made by others do not align with what I would have done or action I might take; this does not necessitate – in the bigger scheme of things - that I chose them.

People will come in and out of your world across a lifetime.  You need to be thoughtful about who you allow into your inner circle – as these relationships are a direct reflection of who YOU are.  Being the best you can possibly be requires choices to be made and conscious intent.  For some, this process is a radical shift but, for many more, it is a process that is gradual – in either instance, it is all about putting forth your intentions.  This will attract into your life the right teachers who come disguised as friends.  
 

Wishing you love, light and laughter!

Nancy

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