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A couple of weeks before Christmas, my dear friend Jackie pulled up on my driveway in her new Jeep. I knocked on the window pane and gave her a thumbs up. It was beautiful. I love Jeeps and I was happy for her. When she walked in, she explained how she wasn’t completely happy with her new purchase. She talked about how it didn’t have this and it didn’t have that. But then, I saw her face change in an instant. I witnessed her having a realization. She stopped complaining and said, “What am I doing? I am happy with my new car! I should just say ‘thank you’ and not complain about the petty things!”

I couldn’t agree more.

I loved that Jackie stopped in the middle of her conversation to check herself. She stopped to appreciate rather than undervalue and undermine this important purchase. We spoke extensively of her realization. This is why Jackie is my friend. I choose to surround myself with positive people. I choose to surround myself with people who are conscious of their actions.

That morning, I looked at Jackie and said, “You just gave me an idea for a blog post. I love how rather than coming to my house in a bad mood, complaining and presenting negative energy, you decided to flip that attitude”. I loved how our conversation continued for the next hour: uplifting each other. Nothing fake. Just real.

I’m not saying that no one can come to my house and complain! Ha! Then I wouldn’t be a good friend. I vent A LOT to my friends and to my hubby and I joke that this is the reason I can sleep at night: because it is off my chest. I want the same for my friends. I want them to tell me what is going on…good and bad. But sometimes we have too many moments with family, friends and acquaintances who are full of negativity and who bring down everyone around them.

For this week’s Positive Series, I ask you to find the love! Surround yourself with happy, loving, and successful people. Stick to people who are willing to share secrets to their success and who are genuinely trying to help you. Avoid those who bully, tease, complain, gossip (all the time!) and are just simply unhappy. When they are ready to receive you and all of your happy-self and are willing to smile with you…then carry on.

The people with whom you associate on a daily basis impact your mood greatly. Ask yourself: do your friends uplift you? Share your passions? Are they encouraging and supportive of your dreams? Do they listen as much as they share? The Debbie Downers of the world affect those around them. Be strong! Don’t let anyone drag you down. Try to help them see a brighter world, after all, we don’t wan’t to give up on friends so harshly! But if they don’t follow suit…then carry on.

What are your thoughts on this today? Feeling like you have to move on, even if it takes giving up friends? Remember, it is okay to leave your comfort zone once in a while, not to settle and to do some reflection for a happier life.