The people you associate with are intimately connected with the way you live your life. If you are aspiring for a healthier lifestyle, observe the people around you who appear to be in radiant health and exude a sense of calm and balance and see what they are doing. It is good to associate yourself with people that pull you up rather than those that drag you down.

Sometimes it may mean that some difficult decisions need to be taken. If you go out with those guys from the footy club every Friday who regularly binge drink and end up at a strip club, then chances are you will fall in line with their behaviours. I am not making a moral judgement on the above, as life has a time and place for everything. However, habitually engaging in such a lifestyle is unlikely to be good for your health!

The best thing that you can do for your friendship circle is to take a leadership role and promote activities that are wellness orientated. A camping or hiking trip, skiing or surfing, or volunteering to help on a youth camp. There are many mays to help shift your social group’s overall health levels. Once they start to experience the benefits there is no going back.

If despite trying, your friends are falling into unhealthy habits which may range from chronic McDonalds eating to serious substance abuse such as heroin, ice or cocaine, then have a think about whether you really want to hang out with them. You may have to leave them behind for a new social group. That’s life!

In Health and Wellness