Don’t be like them. Read on, you’ll see why not. P.S For those of you who are wondering, these are the GameGrumps, possibly my favorite set of 5 people. Ever!
Does it ever hit you that the more time you spend with your friends, the more you become them? Okay, not in a literal, monstrous-mutation way, but in ways in which you become more like them. Maybe you picked up on their fashion clothing, if that at all exists, or started saying a particular word because they said it? I know I have, even though “hella” is a thing of the past (unless you’re in California, that is).
Believe it or not, there’s psychological reasoning for this, and it’s pretty mind-blowing: you subconsciously mimic people’s perceived, socially optimal actions. I won’t get into this, though. Long story short, you associate with your friend’s characteristics. By this power of association, you–without knowing it–become more like the people you hang around.
What’s the moral of the story, you ask? Good question. The answer is simple: be friends with the right people. If you’re always around lazy people who sleep three-quarters of the day, then bad news, you’re going to follow suit. If all your friends go to the gym and work out, then at some point or another, so will you. You can see how the power of association can work for you, but also against you.
Bottom-line: pick the right people to be around–the ones who constantly motivate you to be productive, and at all times push you to achieve your goals.
The QT Psychologist 