People who you choose to spend your time with are a reflection of who you are.

So look at the five people closest to you.

The people you sit with at lunch.

The people you devote your time to on the weekends.

The first people you think of in the morning and the last at night.

The people you call your best friends.

Really look at them. Study them.

Do they make you laugh uncontrollably? Do they push you to be better? Do they listen to your thoughts? Do they make you happy?

In order to say yes to all of these questions you must surround yourself with specific types of people: The Soul Mates, The Open Minded, The Positive, The Challengers, and The Go Getters.

The Soul Mates.

A friend that is your soul mate is special. This person is your best friend. They know you better than you know yourself. They listen to you. You know this person will answer your phone call or text message any time no matter what. You aren’t afraid to be yourself around this person. Nowadays it’s really hard to trust someone, so when you find someone you don’t have to constantly check to see if they put a knife in your back, you have to hold on to them tight. You know they are there for you. To have a soul mate is having someone you can conquer the world with.

The Open Minded.

An open-minded person isn’t afraid to try new things. When you have someone who is unprejudiced around you, there is nothing holding you back. They remind you that everyone is equal and that everyone has a story worth reading. They make it easy because they accept everyone. They don’t judge and that’s important because they help you not judge yourself.

The Positive.

It is absolutely essential to have a positive person close to you. Positivity goes a really long way. Positive people give you a better outlook on life. They brighten your days with their ability to look at the good in everything… and let’s be honest, there isn’t a lot of good in the world so when you discover someone who can pick out the wonderful without a microscope, you have to cherish them. You’re gonna go through a lot of difficult times in your life, and when you need someone’s shoulder to cry on, you want it to be the person that can put a smile on your face.

The Challengers.

It’s really important to be friends with people who are different from you. They may disagree with everything you say, but they do it to help you form your perspective on life. They may push you to your absolute last straw, but they do it to help you become the best version of yourself. You have to learn to be friends with challengers because they make you uncomfortable. They challenge you to do things that don’t feel right. But you will miss incredible opportunities if you don’t have challengers that push you out of your comfort zone.

The Go Getters.

These people dream big. They are motivated to accomplish their goals. They are passionate when doing the things they love. But, most importantly, they inspire you. You will never get anywhere in life without goals to work towards. You have to be around people who are on a non-stop flight to success. You need people around you with a vision for a brighter future.

Hopefully your best friends exhibit these qualities. Your friends are supposed to be your cheerleaders. Surround yourself with good people because good people bring out the good in people. Choose friends that you are proud of and remember… when you free yourself from negative people, you free yourself to be you—and being you is the only way to truly live.