I was listening to Hay House Radio yesterday, and the host was talking about how our happiness levels could be measured by averaging the happiness levels of our top few friends. I found this so interesting and also very eye opening.

It's so important to surround ourselves with positive, emotionally healthy, and happy people. Because emotions and feelings are contagious (here is my previous post about this), it's especially important and crucial for our own well being that we are cognizant of who we choose to be close to.

And I know that this isn't always the easiest decision to make. Sometimes you'll find that you've been friends with someone for years - you have a history that you would feel bad letting go of. And yet... every time you are with this friend you find that you start off in a happy mood (your mood), and you leave in a negative, sad mood (their mood). It's crucial to your own happiness to carefully choose who you spend time with. If someone doesn't help elevate your mood or make you feel great - it may be best to spend less time with them in the future.

And I'm not talking about a dear friend who has had a bad day and needs to vent (we've all been there). I'm talking about the person who continuously sees life through a darkened lens - who sees each experience through their negative filter. And while you may love them and want the best for them, you can also love yourself and want the best for your own well being and happiness.

On the positive side - think about your friends who radiate happiness. Think about how wonderful you feel after you spend time with them. Filling your life with people like this will actually help increase your own happiness!

And it doesn't just have to be your friends - you can read positive books and blogs (like this one!), listen to inspirational podcasts, watch television shows that are happy and fun - anything you can think of to raise your own happiness level.

And in doing so, everyone who comes in contact with you will also have their own happiness levels raised.

It's definitely worth thinking about. Your happiness is that important.

Author's Bio: 

Jodi Chapman is the author of the inspirational blog, Soul Speak; the upcoming book, Coming Back to Life: How an Unlikely Friend Helped Me Reclaim My True Spirit; and the bestselling Soulful Journals series, co-authored with her amazing husband, Dan Teck. www.jodichapman.com