Bad company ruins good morals

The end of yet another year is a time of reflection and thanksgiving, a time to thank God for the gift of life and good health. A time to appreciate the accomplishments achieved over the year. A time to welcome the New Year with excitement and anticipation.

In order to embrace the New Year, it is important to bring closure to the current one. It is always fulfilling and refreshing to measure success and celebrate it too. It also provides room to acknowledge failures and purpose to make improvements where necessary in order to see tangible future results, pressing on towards the goal.

In so doing it helps in keeping one fulfilled, inspired, energised and motivated. It is a perfect opportunity to reflect on set goals and objectives.

This is a great season to reflect on personal relationships and associations. According to Jim Rohn, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with” similarly scripture reminds us that bad company corrupts character or good morals.

It does not matter how upright, intelligent and talented one is, if they do not surround themselves with positive influence they become challenged. More often than not people ignore the power of association, leaving it purely to circumstances and convenience and slide through life ignorant of its existence, purpose or impact.

Associations have a great impact on our thinking and actions both positively and negatively depending on the energies that permeate. If they are positive, they tend to have positive influence, if they are however negative, they have negative influence.

Habits and values are also influenced by associations, it is therefore important to ensure that the associations we choose to have impact positive and not negatively. It is not always easy to let go of negative associations, however, when I got to understand that associations and friendships may be for a reason, a season or a lifetime, this was very impactful. Allow me to share the poem with you.

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.

When someone is in your life for a reason, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually.

They may seem like a godsend, and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrong doing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die.

Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON, it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.

Lifetime relationships teach you lifetime lessons; those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person/people (anyway); and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Author Unknown

As you prepare to usher in 2016, choose to declarer and make wise decisions concerning your associations in order to live, love and thrive because you deserve it!

The writer is a Relationship Coach and Author, “Marriage Built to Last”. You can reach her on; www.jenniekarina.co.ke