You've changed...

Yes.

Yes, I have. Have you?

This is honestly one of the biggest compliments you can give me. It’s not just change, its growth.

When you catchup with ‘friends’ and all they really do is reminisce on things you once did together, not about what they are going to do, or what they are going to do to support you and your growth, that’s a sign they are living in the past. They may not even be living in the present and their best days of personal growth are probably behind them.

If you hang out with friends and drink majority of the times you see them, or they can only relate to you over alcohol, they are not friends. They are drinking buddies. At one point in my life, some friendships almost always resulted in a hangover. These friendships might seem fun, but they are punishing your focus.

Now, let me be clear. I hold no regret or malaise towards these old relationships. In fact, I am grateful they were part of the journey, and I am certainly not a victim. I was a contributor to others punishing their focus too.

However, if you are goal focused, keep your circle small, and keep only those who make you better or influence growth.

Remove chairs from the table that don’t belong there.

Tough thing to do. Putting boundaries in place once you outgrow your old self and others takes strength.

Think of it in reverse. What are you willing to give up or what are you OK NOT to achieve to maintain an old relationship?

Our best years are right now, and ahead of us. Not in the past.

Majority of people will be left behind and they become the noisy ones. If you are lucky enough to find someone in the 1% of the population, someone who is exceptional, keep them.

I am lucky enough to have a small circle of them and have recently welcomed another exceptional friend into my life.

Stay focused.