Choose wisely.

Those who hunger for greatness will never be satisfied with an average life.

Be careful who you surround yourself with, though, because the mediocre will always try to get you to settle. You will become like the 5 people you spend the most time with. Choose wisely.

First are the ones who are sadly, hopeless. They lack the skills, talent, or intelligence to actually accomplish greatness. Often these types are not much of a threat. You see them as they are and are not enchanted by their lack of accomplishment.

Then there are those who achieve a moderate level of success and who are happy with that. Sometimes the simplicity of this life is appealing. They lack drive, so their sights are not set on greatness. They can be satisfied here, but do not be fooled—you cannot. Many people fall into this category.

There are those who have drive but lack discipline. They may even possess talent that allows them moments of achievement. It seems to come easy to them and at times we are attracted to their energy. However, we quickly learn (if we are wise), that they lack the stamina to maintain the level of greatness your heart hungers for. Do not be deceived. These people often talk about greatness and they will dream with you, but obstacles will always get in their way. They will make excuses and blame outside forces for their inability to truly pursue their dreams. Watch out for these—they will drain you and feed off of your energy, but are unable to equally ignite your fire. If you listen to them, they are like the sirens—they draw you in and hypnotize you into forgetting your ambitions. They are resentful of your talent and drive and like crabs in a barrel, they will try to drag you down. Their poison is in their excuses. If they can get you to blame shift, you will become like them.

Remember that greatness always rests within our ability to achieve it. Obstacles cannot deter you if your will is strong. Be watchful.

Next we have those maliciously ambitious. They have drive. They are talented. They are cunning, but they are threatened by you. These are the ones who will use your energy and take advantage of the privileges that come with knowing you, but once they have gleaned all they can, they abandon you. These are the ones who will take credit for your accomplishments and strategically place themselves above you, whatever the cost. You are a stepping stone to them and they will destroy you if you get in their way. These ones are harder to identify. Consistency and honesty are their enemies. Look for patterns. They will claim zero responsibility for ruined relationships and will always prioritize their needs and dreams above yours. Test the waters. Be objective. Time always tells with these.

Finally, there are those who match your energy, your kinfolk. These are very rare. These are the ones who journey with you. Like iron sharpening iron, you push each other in the direction of your dreams. These are the ones who acknowledge that your greatness enhances their own greatness, not hinders it. They will sacrifice to help you accomplish your goals. They will celebrate with you and cheer you on. These are the ones to confide in, seek advice from. They will be honest with you and pick you up when you stumble. These are rare and precious friendships. Cherish them.

The journey toward greatness can be incredibly isolating because so few travel beyond mediocre. This is why we feel so alone at times.; why we feel so intensely about things in general. It is why some people feel sad, but we truly grieve. It is why we fall so hard for people and possess such strong feelings of attachment, fear, and sorrow. But also know that it is because of this that we can experience such incredible love and joy. Those moments may be rare, but they are precious and worth the journey.

Do not lose heart, dear friends, for the greatness you hunger for will be yours. “Keep your eyes on the sky and your feet on the ground—you can do this”. (Roosevelt, Newsies).

-Candice