You become like the people you spend the most time with.
I see this quote in two ways. The first is that I become like the people I spend most of my time with. And the second is that the people I spend the most time with reflect back to me who I am and how I see myself. That is that my outsides reflect my insides. I surround myself with what I believe to be true.
When I was judgmental of myself and unhappy, I attracted people that were the same way. And we would constantly reaffirm behaviours and actions that tended to inspire resentments and suffering and, in doing so, we would continue to be unhappy and judgmental. As I have become more interested in spiritual growth, the people I have attracted to me are people that are interested in the same and help guide me to greater spiritual growth.
The people with whom I surround myself reflect back to me what I believe to be true about the world. As I have come to understand this, I have found that people just organically come into my life and organically slip away. The universe seems to provide me with what I wish for when I wish for it. In the same way, it brings the people and events into and out of my life based on my truths and the intentions I hold. And, in turn, these people help me to mold new intentions and truths as I grow.
Today, I try to spend time with people that nourish my soul and not my ego.
A meditation for September 3, 2013.
With a Little Help From My Friends – The Beatles