Choose Wisely

"He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm."  Proverbs 13:20 (NASB)
There is plenty of research indicating that human interaction is important to our well-being.  There is also plenty of research indicating that we tend to take on the mindset of the people with whom we spend the most time.
As a young parent, I advised my children to be careful in choosing companions.  If you are with someone who is caught shoplifting, you will get in trouble for shoplifting.  No one will believe that you didn't know what your friend was doing, even if you truly didn't.
Things don't change much when you're older.  The simplest things can impact us.  My daughter developed a European accent during a two week visit to Germany, without her noticing.  As a massage practitioner, I've gotten sick when the toxins from a client who was a smoker or drug user was absorbed through my hands.
The same thing happens in friendships: we absorb each other's attitudes and behaviors.  If you want to clean up your language, find friends who don't swear.  If you don't want to be abused, stay away from abusers.  If you want to stay clean, avoid addicts.  If you want to be a grateful person, don't hang around with complainers.  If you want a good reputation, stick with respected and respectable people.  If you want to be successful, learn from people who do the work instead of making excuses.  If you want to be honest, stay with people who speak truth.  If you want to be encouraged, listen to people who are positive. 
People with low standards tend to attract others with equally low expectations of themselves, in order to give themselves permission to remain stagnant.  Keep yourself out of that crab trap.  More about the crab mentality: Up Your Game
"Do not be misled: bad company corrupts good character."  1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV)
Nobody makes it alone.  We need each other.  Choose your friends wisely, because you will become like them.  Are you choosing friends who inspire you to reach higher?  Are you BEING a friend who inspires others to reach higher?