The people you surround yourself with shape who you become—your thoughts, actions, and even your values. When I didn’t truly love or understand myself, I wasted precious time with the wrong people: girlfriends who lacked integrity, faith, and loyalty; guy friends who didn’t respect boundaries; and even business partners who lacked integrity. This wasn’t just about them—it reflected my own lack of self-awareness and self-respect.

To build a life of success, peace, and happiness, you must first know who you are and what you stand for. What are your values? What matters most to you? Without this clarity, it’s easy to get swept into relationships and environments that don’t align with your true self.

Hanging out with people who lack integrity, faith, or a sense of goodness is a recipe for dissatisfaction. I’ve learned that people who lack faith in God or a higher power often lack a deeper respect for others. They aren’t striving toward goodness, and their negative energy inevitably drags you down.

I spent years surrounded by people who because were disconnected from inner wisdom—they in turn betrayed me. Whether it was friends, partners, or colleagues, their lack of alignment with their core goodness reflected in their actions. Fidelity, faithfulness, and integrity were absent, and it became clear that I had allowed this by staying in their presence.

Today, I know better. The key to identifying the right people lies in whether they believe in growth, goodness, and are striving to be better human beings. Faith in God, or in a higher purpose, often mirrors faith in goodness. Without this, there’s no foundation for mutual respect.

Stop wasting time trying to “be nice” to people who show no desire to grow. Everyone has a choice to be good or bad. Blaming past trauma or upbringing doesn’t excuse harmful behavior—there’s no justification for it anymore.

Your time and energy are precious. Choose wisely who you spend them with, because ultimately, you become a reflection of those you allow into your life. Walk away from negativity, dishonesty, and a lack of faith. Surround yourself with people who lift you toward your highest potential, and you’ll find the peace and success you’ve been searching for.