Who Do You Hang Out With?
By Laura Kelly-Pifer
When I sat down today to write, I hadn’t really planned on what I am about to share but it’s on my heart and I feel that I need to tell you about this.
Maybe you’re happy with your life and where you want to be. Maybe you’re not. Maybe you know that there are some things that need to change but you’re uncertain of where to begin. I was there. I know how hard it can be. It’s scary. But I did it and you can too.
Let me share a personal story with you.
It was just a few years ago where I was attending a work related conferences and Chalene Johnson, Speaker and TurboFire Creator, mentioned this in her session. “You are who you hang around.” That simple statement was eye-opening for me. I needed to hear it that day. It would be part of the break thru that made me think about where I was in my life and in turn would bring me where I am today.
At that time, I wasn’t feeling well…my Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia had me in bed for hours each day, I was suffering from depression and wasn’t living as healthy as what I should. I was using food and alcohol as a way of coping and my bad habits were causing some discernment in my life. It was causing a major strain. I was on the path to becoming just like the people that I hung around. I was associating with folks who were just as miserable as I was and were coping in some of the same ways. And, when we were together or talked on the phone, we fed off one another.
As I listened to the message at our conference, I was opened up to a whole new world; a world that involved and encouraged daily self-development, both physically and spiritually. I decided to come home and begin investing in me. No one else could do this for me. Only I could decide that it was time to change. I chose to make my “circle” (friends, relatives and even business associates) tighter and began to set boundaries. I didn’t need to answer every call or text and I could love people from a distance. As I gradually did these things, learned how to forgive myself and try to live as healthy as I could, things began to shift for the good in my life. My body began the journey to heal it’s self, the weight started coming off, my relationships with my husband and children began to mend and so on and so on.
The picture above, was taken just the other day and each time I see it, I smile. I smile because I know that the road I’ve traveled has lead me to where I am today and I feel extremely happy and very blessed. Has it been easy? Absolutely not. It’s been a road full of bumps and curves and I wouldn’t change a thing as it’s shaped me to be who I am today. Every day I learn something new about myself, even when I slip up and I’m okay with that. It’s part of being human. If we fall, we can choose to get up, dust ourselves off and keep moving forward.
I want you to know that sometimes making the circle tighter is just what is needed to begin your journey of healing, losing weight, etc. Find the people who will encourage you to be YOUR best self, who are there to encourage and support you and lift you up when you’re down. You don’t have to be just like them. You just need to hang around them.
With Love,
Laura
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Laura Kelly-Pifer is a Self-Discovery CoachTM who strives to help others by giving hope and support to those that are dissatisfied with their current situation. Whether you are lacking physically, emotionally, financially, or nutritionally she is here to help you see REAL RESULTS!