Surround Yourself with People who are Good for You

Do you feel like you have the right people in your life? Do you have friends and family who are supportive of you? Or, are you around a bunch of negative Nancy's all the time?

The people in your life matter. When you are around good people, you will be happier. But, when you are around a bunch of abusive narcissists, your life is going to be full of pain and disappointment.

Your life is in large part determined by the company that you keep.

According to research from Stanford,

Heaps of research suggest that social connections make people happier. Satisfying relationships not only make people happy, but they also associated with better health and even longer life.

Relationships are connected to some of our strongest emotions. When they are positive we feel happiness, contentment and calm. When relationships bring out the worst in us or they are non-existent, we feel anxious, depressed, and lonely.

This research shows us the importance of making positive social connections, and having positive relationships in our lives. Good relationships can make us so much happier, and make our lives more fulfilling.

So, how do we find good relationships? It can be easier said than done in our modern society that is increasingly more disconnected.

Today, many of us turn to the internet for socialization. We are on social networks where we can connect with like-minded people across the world using the web. This opens up all kinds of new doors of possibilities, because we don't have to rely on proximity for friendship.

You may be lucky to have a best friend from high school or college that you keep in touch with regularly, or to have met local moms in the neighborhood that you connect with.

If so, make sure that you nurture these relationships, and hold them close. Good friends are worth more than gold in life.

Setting boundaries

If, like so many of us today, you are stuck in toxic relationships that are destroying your mental health, it is important to learn to set boundaries with people.

Boundaries are the ways that we say no to what isn't serving us in life.

When someone is doing something negative or hurtful, like calling you names or spreading lies about you, it is important to know that you deserve better, and be able to put a quick stop to this toxic and hurtful behavior.

This can be in the context of friendships, family relationships, or at work or school.

According to Science of People, here are some ways that you can go about setting boundaries:

1. Visualize and name your limits

2. Openly communicate your boundaries

3. Reiterate and uphold your boundaries

4. Don't be afraid to say no

5. Take time for yourself

These steps are a good starting place for learning how to stick up for yourself, and stopping negative people from getting the best of you.

It is important to remember that you are a worthy and worthwhile person, and you deserve to be treated with kindness and respect. The more you respect and value yourself, the easier it will be to set boundaries with other people in your life.

Making new friends

Making new friends can be easier said than done, but once you do, it can make a world of difference in your life.

You can meet positive people online as I said before, or in your community. If you go to community events or things like taking yoga class or going to meditation, you can find people with shared interests.

Don't be afraid to get to know new people. There are loads of great people out there in the world, it is just a matter of finding and connecting with them. Sometimes, you will have to speak up and make the first move. If you like someone and want to hang out more, ask for contact details to get in touch and schedule time to hang out.

It can be scary to get out of your comfort zone and ask someone to hang out again, but it can be well worth the effort.

Sometimes all it takes is a little kindness and openness to be able to connect with other like minded people. Sharing an interest or sharing values are great ways to connect with others.

Even if it takes time to meet new people, it can be well worth it.

In our new community here in Germany, we have met a lot of great people already. It came from talking to people over coffee who had come to work on our house, and being able to connect over having same-age kids.

A lot of times, you can meet other moms by attending kids school functions and not being afraid to start up a conversation with someone and get to know them. Lots of moms are always looking to make new friends.

I hope that you are able to find some like minded people to share your life with, it really does have a tremendous positive impact on your mental health!