Having this “what are you doing for my bottom line lately?” attitude towards your friends and loved ones can be overly critical of the people you care about. If someone’s bringing you down that’s one thing but doing a cost/benefit on people the way you would a business decision isn’t all that health.

We are so shallow in modern times to say “I’ll just replace you with a better friend” like a pair of pants is kind of sad when you look at it.

Just my 2c, nice thought provoking article, keep it up.

Of course, you want to break away from negative people, dangerous people, and so on. However, take some of the most successful people out there: let’s say Tiger Woods, Bill Gates, Barack Obama, Brad Pitt, or Steve Jobs. I am sure they know when to chill, and can spend a winter with a certain friend in Colorado who just enjoys fishing at his lake.

In life, you probably should have a diversity of friends. The motivators, the energetic, the chill, the stay-home-relaxing etc, and essentially focus on having ‘great’ friends, who ultimately have nothing but love for you. You seem to focus only on the ’successful’ ones.

While #7 (liars…) and #3 are self-explanatory, for the rest, we all have flaws, and if you get in a wreck on your motorcycle, you might just find out that the fast-paced friend is sorta leaving you behind, while the “focused on maintenance” come over with a pizza to share a good laugh.

Just my $.02

Nice article though, sirs, keep on

I have to say i mostly agree with you on negative people. Some people are natural bring downs.

However i do not think it’s very healthy to evaluate people based on how successful they are or their status. Sure, i do not want people who try to tear me down, or need help all the time, or self destructive individuals.

Setting up this image of the high status perfectionist alpha male has been such a big obsession within the community.

What happened to chillin with your mates and having fun, picking up chicks or playing PS3 or whatever you enjoy doing together? A friend should be someone you enjoy hanging out with and having fun.

Best wishes, Innerpower

Two people specifically that had to go was my life-long best friend and my now ex-girlfriend. Full of negativity and it suppressed me and what I truly wanted to do.

As sad as it was to see them go, it has been a major part of my change.

I strongly recommend getting rid of any sources of negativity that seems to hover in your life. It’ll make you a much better person.