Tell me who your friends are, and I will tell you who you are. There are many quotes along this line that have been developed over years. Maybe they're trite, and maybe they're true.

How do your friends reflect who you are? Often your friends share similar interests and are easy to get along with. You generally share many common values. Sometimes you have friends who are different from you, and that's why you like each other. It's great to expand your horizons unless your friends are influencing you in a direction that differs from your core values.

We often don't want to admit we're hanging with the wrong crowd. It's something we put blinders on to prevent us from seeing the truth. High school kids are notorious for choosing bad friends or those who seem more exciting and free than they themselves are. Who knew you can still make the same bad choices as an adult? At any stage in life it's possible to build relationships with the wrong people or nice people who just aren't in sync with you and the direction you are going.

Who you hang out with also affects how others perceive you, so consider how you'd like to be perceived when choosing your company. It's your decision, just be aware because small compromises in your friend decisions can add up to a major divergence in your life path and purpose over time.

For example, if you are in a money saving mode, you may not want to hang out with big spenders who encourage you to go shopping all the time. If you are on a strict diet you should hang out with friends you will keep you accountable rather than joining the Burger of the Month Club. Those are easy to recognize examples, yet others are subtler, like how conservatively or liberally you approach society.

I encourage you to pursue friendships with people who align with your value system and will support you in the direction you are going in life. You can!