There is no doubt in any parent’s mind about the influence of our children’s friends. As adults, we may also look back at the friends of our youth and see the positive or negative influences they’ve had on us.
These realizations can be sobering but there’s no need to regret them because well…we learn and become better people because of them. (Hopefully.)
Jim Rohn, an American entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker is quoted to say:
You are the average of the five people we spend the most time with.
In the book, Inner Work on page 84 Rav Gottlieb says:
Our spiritual development is determined by who we are friends with.
When trying to make positive changes, or doing teshuvah it may be advantageous to reflect on the impact of the five people we spend the most time with.
Ask yourself questions like:
- Are they helping us move forward?
- Is it a positive relationship?
- Is the relationship lopsided?
and adjust your lifestyle accordingly.
Yitzhak Sasson 