They say “Misery loves company”. They also say “Keep company with good men, and you’ll increase their number”. And this one “Tell me what company you keep and I’ll tell you what you are”.

What company are you keeping? And by that I mean, what blogs are you reading, who are you following on twitter, who are the friends you are hanging out with, what are you filling your heart, mind, and soul with?

I have been focusing a lot lately on the power of words and the impact they have on me as well as those around me. I have been doing a lot of reading, blogs, books, magazines, and occasionally the dictionary. (Yes, I realize the dictionary is a book, but it’s not something you would normally pick up to read on a regular basis.)

One of the things I have found lately is there is a commonality running through my reading, interactions, and viewing. There have been a few books, posts or articles that I have read that have not been in my normal mainstream of interest. And that is intentional, I do that to challenge my view of something or to learn about a topic I am not familiar with. But for the most part I find that what I read or focus my attention on, pretty much fits right with where I am currently in life. Which got me thinking, if I change what I’m reading or who I’m hanging out with, or what I’m watching, does that also affect my circumstances? Attitude is everything (or so they say). So if that is the case, if I stop reading about other people who are pursuing their dreams yet feeling frustrated, or who are in a difficult spot right now (lost job, big move, new area, physical limitations) will this change the circumstances I find myself in? Is it self induced or do birds of feather really flock together? (Okay, okay, I’ll stop with the quotes now – but they do help illustrate the point.)

I have to be intentional about what I am feeding myself, mentally, physically, and spiritually. Otherwise it is just too easy to fall into a dark place and stay there for an extended period of time.

So how about you? What company are you keeping? What are you feeding yourself?

And as a side note, just exactly who is “they”?