The power of association is very powerful. It affects your thinking, habits, the way you speak, and what you do. To achieve your goals and dreams, it’s important for you to surround yourself with successful friends and mentors.~ David Em

I graduated high school just over six years ago, and I can say that the amount of friends that I associate myself with since I graduated: is 0.

As an Actor and Talk show host from Washington State, the journey of my career has been quite lonely, but also very exciting. Fantastic opportunities, traveling, just blessings I couldn’t be thankful for enough, though there has been a part of my life that has never been fulfilled – that is friendships.

I’ve struggled with having friends because people are hard to rely on. I am loyal. I’ve just never had a dependable, trustworthy, supportive friend or friends. I’m here to tell you that it is perfectly okay to be picky with the people you decide to be friends with. 

The Power of Association: On Choosing Your Friends Wisely

I live by these three words that have changed the paradigm of who I want friendships with in life: Power of Association.

If you have never heard of this term, sit back and relax, go grab your coffee that’s getting cold under the coffee maker, and read what I have to say about the power of association.

You are a direct product of the people you hang around daily. Let’s say you have seven friends you hang out with often. Those seven friends that you associate with, you are a product of.

Now, I want you to reflect on each friend you have and ask yourself: Is this person right for me?

Hey, don’t panic. Don’t just think about that one bad thing one of your friends has done in the past and automatically think you’re one of them now. That’s not necessarily how the power of association works.

The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when you discover that someone else believes in you and is willing to trust you with a friendship. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

We’re all human at the end of the day, and we can only make so many mistakes in life. I am ultimately trying to say that the less you associate with some people, you will start to see improvement in your life.  I am not saying you should be like me and have only 2-3 friends.

As humans, we have this feeling in our guts called “Intuition,” and it’s SO important to use yours as you come across certain people in your life.

Four years ago, I associated myself with a group of people who were terrible for my mental health. I started to think differently – in the worst ways possible. I was getting in trouble with the law, I was getting caught up with my family, and I was ruining the relationship I had with my girlfriend I had at the time.

2016 was absolutely the worst year of my life. But you want to know what I did? What I did to escape that lifestyle I was living with my “so-called-friends”?

It was as simple as shifting my focus on the bigger picture in life: Purpose.

I am a firm believer that we were all put on this planet for a reason. My curiosities were storming through the roof, so I started to take my career to the next level and not-so focus on the group of people I was surrounding myself daily. This shift in focus has led me to star in big films, lots of well-known commercials, and now starring in a talk show as a host.

Listen, I do not know you. I don’t know what you look like, I don’t know where you’re from, but as long as you’re reading this through your computer or phone screen, I want you to know something: I care.

I’ve never even met you, but I care about the people that come into your life because your life is precious. It’s one of a kind. So thinking about the power of association will not only make you realize the people you do want in your life, but it will give you the realization of the people that you don’t want in your life.

Time is something we will never get back, and people have no shame in wasting it to use someone for who they are and what they have. You know your value, so it’s okay to be picky with the people you want to be friends with! 

Last but not least, – friends are an investment. Make sure you choose and invest wisely.

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