Unprofitable and Retrogressive Relationships (Close the Chapter 3)

“Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.” Proverbs 13:20 (You Version).

Close the chapter on relationships which do not add to you, empower you and challenge you to do better or move forward. Someone has observed that there are three kinds of people: yesterday people, today people, and tomorrow people. Some people want to keep you tied to your past never wanting you to move ahead. You do not need a close relationship with someone who is trapped in the past. Such people like you as you were and are uncomfortable with your progress. Such a relationship will likely steal your tomorrow if you don’t close the chapter. Some are relevant for your today but have no place in your tomorrow. We must not hold tight to those from whom we need to disconnect. Close the chapter.

You cannot maintain close associations that don’t value your purpose or respect your goals. Avoid close associations with those who downplay your pluses while magnifying your minuses. In the same way, avoid those who make you feel comfortable with your errors and would like you to be complacent in them. Your close relationships must love you enough to confront you and help empower you for the future.

There are people who are perpetually depressed and pessimistic. They have chosen the down attitude in life. Understand that it is easy to catch their attitude by close association. You cannot have such people as your close friends if you have a purpose for your life. You don’t need discouragers and “pitiers”. You need encouragers, challengers and “empowerers”.

Take responsibility for your relationships. Don’t just let people force themselves into your life. Qualify those with whom you enter into relationship so that your life can be purposeful, meaningful and directed. You can never be better than your closest relationships. Therefore, pursue relationships which will add value to you in the long run. Nurture such relationships and sow into them. Write your script through the close associations in your life.