We naturally have friends that come and go as we grow up based on similar interests, school, single, married etc. As we get older a lot of times it’s our work environment that we have our closest friendships. When I started my LIFE journey it was the first time I thought about who my friends were based on the future I wanted.
One early morning, at a Leadership Conference in Fredericton NB, I asked my mentor Claude Hamilton, how do I tell some of my friends that their association is not a positive one ?
Claude explained to draw three circles like a target, an inner circle, middle circle, outer circle. What he said was the outside circle represented the public you, Wayne the welder, Wayne the ball player. The middle circle represented the personal you, the people who knew me best, friends/family/wife. The inner circle represented the private you, what you and your Lord knows about you. He explained that the further away these three circles are from each other the more stress you will feel in your life. For me personally, I was a different person in different environments which created a lot of stress. He said, the closer you bring these circles together the less stress you will have in your life.
I never had to tell any of my friends that we were growing apart, it just gradually happened, like it had so many times in the past. It’s a natural process of life to change association based on interests. When I started to grow personally and focus on my future, I started to associate with people who had the values and lifestyles I was looking for.
Today I live a blessed life because; I protected my time and who I associated with. You have probably heard if you hang out with bank robbers long enough you’ll probably rob a bank, or at least drive the get away car!!
Thank you Orrin Woodward and Claude Hamilton for creating an environment in LIFE for people to be able to have the courage to unlock their God-given passions.
You become who you associate with, choose wisely.
God bless, Wayne MacNamara