Last week, I texted my best friend and thanked her for being such a positive force and motivation in my life. After visiting her in New York the weekend prior and seeing how she was actually living out the goals she had set for herself, I was more determined than ever to get the internship I truly want next summer. It was in that moment that I really came to understand the truth behind what psychologists and researchers say about our relationships with other people.

It was Jim Rohn who stated that "we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with." Think it's untrue? Consider your own life: how much have you changed since you left for college or made a new best friend that you are absolutely inseparable from? Are you more focused on your academic career or have you not had a moment to study because you're too wrapped up in your beer pong career? Are you more judgmental of others' appearances, even though in high school you would have never looked twice at another girls jeans? Maybe the changes are subtle, but I guarantee that almost everyone has experienced a few differences in themselves when the people around them begin to shift.

We like to think that we are independent actors, free to do, say, and think however we like. But the reality is, we're highly impressionable and influenced by those around us, even if their influence is on an unconscious level. You may not think that your new friends' stereotypical comments would change your way of thinking, but soon you're mimicking, and maybe even believing, some of these same stereotypes. In the same way, your friends' positive attitude may change your mood and outlook, even when you aren't consciously trying to.

So, what's the conclusion? While we do have the power to make our own decisions, it is important to recognize the influence that others constantly have on us. Define your goals and aspirations, whether they be related to your career, health, outlook on life, or any other area, and surround yourself with people who are moving toward these same outcomes. And perhaps more importantly, dump those who are weighing you down; it does no good to take one step forward only to take three steps back later. I guarantee that you'll find that your journey is that much easier and your successes are that much sweeter when you have other, like-minded people to share it with.