Success Princliples: Iron Sharpens Iron

The Live Intentionally, Die Empty Philosophy #1

"Iron Sharpens Iron the same way a man should sharpen the countenance of his friends"

You have heard the phrase "birds of a feather flock together." It's true. Who you choose to hang with has a great impact on how high you go in life. One thing that people fail to realize in relationships is that there is always "an exchange" taking place. You are pouring something into your friend and they in turn are pouring something into you. It is very important to know that the thing that they are pouring is what you want to have in your life.

The "Iron Sharpens Iron" principle says that if you have someone in your life that does not have similar objectives, goals, integrity and character than they will not be effective in sharpening you. Sometimes we get "dull" in our life quests and we need someone with like-motivation to encourage us to keep going. If you have someone with no drive or who does not understand that life is lived "on purpose" they will not be effective in helping you over hurdles.

Action: Take a good look at the people that you call friends. Realize that friendship is a "covenant" word. In covenant relationships, two or more parties agree to keep their end of the bargain even if it means to their own detriment. Are the people around you those you feel are worthy of that kind of commitment? Are those people you call friends willing to do the same for you? Are they a good influence? Do you feel they are supportive of your goals?

The balance to this is that sometimes friends "save you from yourself." Friends don't just sit back and let you go over a cliff. Friends will challenge your decisions and thought process.

If you want to begin taking steps toward success, you must evaluate who you associate with. If you are the most driven, most loving, and most (you fill in the blank) person in your group. You need to upgrade because you can only go as far as your group surrounding you. That seems harsh to get rid of the wrong people in your life, if they have been there a long time... but people are in our lives for reasons, seasons, and forever. You have to properly discern which people fall into which category. Make a logical decision-- not an emotional one.