We are incredibly influenced by our social groups.
They influence what we wear, how we talk, our interests, and what we dedicate our time to. I personally recognize it when I start to acquire a drawl after time with friends from the South.
And while our speech and other superficial items may be noticeably warped, the impacts below the surface are far more significant...and dangerous.
The influence of our peers slowly erodes our values and replaces them with versions of their own. So the real question becomes, “What are the values of your social group?” And are those the values you want to identify with?
“Become wise by walking with the wise;
hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.”
We all have people in our lives that inspire us to be better versions of ourselves. Whether in our careers, the complexity of the language we choose, the sharpness of our insights, or the tenderness of our relationships, they are all present. And upon reflection, we note the time spent with them elevated our own output in their superlative area.
Conversely, there are people and activities in our lives that diminish our 'level.' We justify it as cheap entertainment, but in a finite lifespan, the impacts can't be simply negated. At best they cause us to stagnate, but more often they result in losing what we so recently gained.
This week I encourage you to take stock of the people and activities that fill your time. Ask yourself pointedly if they are increasing or decreasing your person. There is absolutely room in life to decompress, it is a necessity. We just need to remain intentional and vigilant amidst those efforts to ensure they don't become a lifestyle.