Friendships are one of life’s greatest gifts. More than just companions on life’s journey, they shape our personal growth, reflect our values, and influence our decisions.
This past month, I realized that the friends you keep can either inspire transformation or hinder your progress. The underlying principle is that choosing relationships wisely is essential for cultivating character, achieving key milestones either as an individual or as a team, and living a fulfilling life.
I realized that the friends you keep can either inspire transformation or hinder your progress.
We are inherently social creatures and quite often, the people we surround ourselves with profoundly affect our habits, attitudes, and aspirations. Psychologists describe this as “social contagion,” where behaviors, mindsets, and emotions ripple through social networks. This principle underscores the saying that you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. This is something my spiritual father has always emphasized. Growth-oriented friends uplift and challenge you to strive for better, while negative influences can stagnate your development or steer you off the right course.
I have also realized that when we are navigating life’s complexities, the friends we consult for advice often shape our decisions. Sometimes, it is the platforms we spend time paying attention to, that influence our decisions. But ultimately, surrounding yourself with wise, experienced, and supportive individuals, enhances your ability to make informed choices especially during pivotal moments. We can all appreciate that the right friendships can act as a compass, guiding us toward progress and fulfillment, even in such moments of our lives.
You could be planning to start a business, enter the institution of marriage, relocate to another country, you name it! Having the right people around you, to give you the counsel you need, is one of the greatest blessings in life. This, though, would require some level of honesty and accountability with such people, for your own benefit.
In fact, to build relationships that inspire growth, you have to regularly assess the nature of your friendships. It is important that as we build healthy relationships with people, we seek those who align with our core values and goals. The nature of every friendship is defined by core values.
Having the right people around you, to give you the counsel you need, is one of the greatest blessings in life. This, though, would require some level of honesty and accountability with such people, for your own benefit.
I have been blessed to have some growth-inspiring friends who celebrate my successes, motivate me to pursue excellence, and gently hold me accountable when I falter. They listen with empathy, challenge my limitations, and greatly contribute to my emotional and intellectual resilience. I consciously invest in such friendships because they foster mutual respect, trust, and growth.
Your own life and experiences must have proved to you by now that relationships that are one-sided, draining, or conflict-driven can hinder your growth and well-being. It is important for us this year to be deliberate about the health of our friendships.
To reecho what I have always said, creating meaningful connections requires intentional effort. For example, true growth-oriented relationships thrive on reciprocity. As people share their dreams, challenges, and aspirations openly, you should do the same in order to strengthen bonds. But also, do not forget the balance of setting boundaries where needed, and protecting your emotional and mental energy, even as you respect the boundaries of others. Not every relationship must be deep, but all should reflect mutual respect and alignment with your life’s direction.
Recognize when friendships no longer serve your growth. Transitioning away from such relationships doesn’t mean burning bridges, but rather realigning your focus on those that inspire and uplift. Respectful closure can create space for new, growth-oriented connections.
I have personally grown to understand that enduring, meaningful friendships don’t happen by accident. They require consistent investment of time, energy, and attention.
You would also appreciate that while friends provide valuable perspectives, it’s essential to maintain autonomy in your decision-making. It is okay to seek advice from those whose wisdom aligns with our principles, but it is necessary to cross-check their input with our values and long-term goals. It is not healthy to over-rely on any single person’s guidance, unless God has specifically instructed you to. As a child of God, seeking divine wisdom, alongside counsel from mentors, spiritual authority, and good friends ensures decisions are rooted in higher purpose and clarity.
I have personally grown to understand that enduring, meaningful friendships don’t happen by accident. They require consistent investment of time, energy, and attention. You make the daily choice to show appreciation for your friends regularly, and celebrating their presence in your life. You make the choice to be there for them in triumphs and trials, because authentic friendships are built on shared experiences and mutual support.
If we can intentionally curate relationships that inspire growth and nurture them with care, we progressively create a supportive environment and community, for personal and collective success and fulfilment. The friends you keep should challenge you to be your best self, encourage your aspirations, and walk with you through life’s evolving seasons.
If we can intentionally curate relationships that inspire growth and nurture them with care, we progressively create a supportive environment and community, for personal and collective success and fulfilment.
So friends, take a moment to evaluate your circle today. Are your friendships propelling you forward? Do they align with your values and vision? If not, it’s never too late to make changes that pave the way for a brighter, more purposeful future. Surround yourself with friends who inspire growth, but strive to be the kind of friend who inspires others in return.
Stay Blessed.
#WiGTyT
Thank you so much. This offers a lot of clarity and is very insightful.
“Not every relationship must be deep, but all should reflect mutual respect and alignment with your life’s direction. Recognize when friendships no longer serve your growth. Transitioning away from such relationships doesn’t mean burning bridges, but rather realigning your focus on those that inspire and uplift.” – WiGTyT
Amen, we thank God
Amen
Amen. Thank you Sir for this. I’m reminded of Proverbs 13:20 and encouraged to redefine my friendships 🙏.
God bless you
Been blessed by this month’s Wigtyt article. Looking forward of building healthy relationships and thankful to God for the wisdom shared with us in this month’s article.
God bless you 🙏
God give you more grace
Thankyou for this, how do you peacefully go away from the friendships not benefiting any more
having closure with people helps.
Have a respectful conversation to find out why your relationship is seemingly not fruitful.
Once you reach an understanding, you can then decide to move on peaceably
Wow, thank you so much Sir for sharing this insightful piece! It is resonating deeply with me, prompting me to reflect on the quality of my friendships – how they impact me and how I impact them. What a powerful way to start February! I’m expecting a blessed month and year ahead. #TheYearoftheBlessingsoftheHolySpirit
God bless you as you reflect
This is indeed very deep and important , the insight on friendships is so relationship developing , in marriage and all spheres of life
The world has so much had questions on friendships and thank you for answers in this articles sir
We thank God
Wowowowow Thanks So much uncle Sam for this… am so blessed
Glory to God
A lot I’ve taken from here, thank you sir🙏
We bless the Lord
Thanks for the good Work 👍🏿
Glory to God
This is so insightful
Investing in meaningful friendships is my grandest take here.
Reciprocity, surround yourself with friends that inspire growth but strive to be the kind of friend who inspires others in return
Very powerful take-home. God bless you.
Thank you so much Sir for the timely message. It’s just at the right time of the year to help us intentionally invest in meaningful and fulfilling relationships. The entire piece is amazing, I didn’t want it to end. However, the challenge we have received at the end got me thinking and asking myself if I am the kind of friend who inspires others to grow and did a quick audit of my friendships and how I contribute to their growth. Thank you so much Sir
God bless you Sir
We thank God. Thank you for reading.
Amen, God bless you.
Thank you so much minister Samuel. I have been having challenges of dealing with unhealthy relationship especially at work place with my friends in the same department and I have been thinking since the term is opening tomorrow how is it going to be, but as I went through the article, I have even got the solution. I thank the Lord so much because this article came at the right time.
We thank God
Woooow
Ooh God timely as you can be I have learnt and taken in a lot 🙏🏻
Thank you Father for the wisdom🙏🏻
Amen
Meaningful friendships indeed don’t happen by accident. We need this wisdom to understand why we need to invest time and resources for our friends…it’s a priceless gift
Amen
At the end of last year I was asking God to teach me how to build and sustain growth oriented friendships,but on reading this Article many questions I had have been answered .
Thank you Sir.
God is faithful
Thank you for the great wisdom man of God.God bless you
Amen
Thank you for this wisdom sir
It helps so much in redefining my friendships
And when I add it to yesterday’s sermon, there is just a lot that makes sense.
Glory To God
My take away “…but strive to be the kind of friend who inspires others in return!” Thank you so much sir for this article!
Amen
Wow, amazing.
February has been a month of evaluation. This is message has redeemed so much of our time, in that we can know who to move with, when and where.
Now, uncle Sam, this is a request. Personally, I love your spirit and I mostly study you through all my spirit can pick as you hold the microphone.
Can we please have a conversation on worship because I know what I see comes from somewhere? Please🙏🙏
God is faithful
Wow just wow ……Indeed this is a timely message. This year is my year of tremendous growth and I hangout with only intentional friends .Because this article cannot leave me the same.Oh yes its painfull but I receive the courage to let go.
Thank you so much uncle Sam
God bless you exceedingly.
Amen
Amazing. Am blessed
:
Friendships are key in life, worthy to be invested in.
Relying on the advise received at the expense of independent decisions to be made is something I am still working on. The Lord who gives wisdom graciously help me.
I hope I can build and maintain healthy friendships
Thank you Uncle Sam
My is life literally turning because of this can say it’s my testimony
Thank you uncle Sam
My is life literally turning because of this I can say it’s my testimony
Thank you uncle Sam