It turns out Garth Brooks was right. When you have friends in low places, you'll have plenty of company to help you drown your blues away. But did you ever consider that your friends are contributing to your problems? Research shows that who you are is a function of who you know. Your friends help shape your outlook, values, emotions and behaviors. Their influence acts like an invisible hand that can either pull you down and thwart your efforts to reach your goals or give you a physical and psychological boost to help you create the life you want. Psychologists call this invisible hand "emotional contagion" or "social contagion," and it can work for or against you. Learn how to avoid its death grip and start letting emotional contagion help you create a richer life.

News flash! Your income, weight, happiness and professional success are the average of your best five friends. When you hang out with rich, fit, happy and successful friends, guess what happens? They rub off on you. More specifically, emotional contagion says their emotions and behavioral attitudes rub off on you. If you think about this, it makes sense.

Parents have long known to be careful of who Johnny befriends, knowing that the wrong crowd could sway little Johnny to do things he might not be inclined to do on his own. Of course, once we grow up, we're sophisticated and mature enough to not let outside forces shape us, right? Woops.

Emotions and attitudes are infectious. Have you ever brainstormed with somebody really creative and found yourself becoming more creative? That's why having a workout partner is so successful. You pull each other up and shape each other's attitudes and behaviors. You instinctually want to order the chili-cheese fries but at the last minute decide to order what your more fit and healthy friend orders instead. However, emotional contagion also has a dark side. Ever been around a bunch of Debbie Downers? What happens to your creativity, outlook and ideas. They turn to rubbish.

So what's the takeaway? How can you exploit emotional contagion to help you create a richer life? You need to be more conscious about who is in your life. You wouldn't let a stranger in your house to rob you, so why would you let a colleague or "friend" rob you of your best life, something much more valuable than your big screen TV and Bee Gee's record collection? It's time you give the finger to those people in your life that are dragging you down -- kindly, but firmly, pointing them toward the door.

Sound too harsh? Emotional contagion says emotions, attitudes and behaviors are contagious and can spread from one person to another like a virus that causes the flu. Do you go out of your way to be around people who can make you sick? No, of course not. Then why risk being infected by those in your life that spew their negative attitudes and behaviors onto you?

But how do you know who's a friend and who's a foe? There are only two types of people in this world, and the sooner you discover this, the happier, more fulfilled and successful you'll become -- even if it means dumping your best friend, neighbor, or, yes, even your mother.

The "friend" types are what I call Energizers. These are people that lift you up, give you energy, make you want to be a better person, inspire you, make you feel good about yourself and your life, encourage you to take risks, and motivate you to achieve your goals and dreams.

The "foe" types are what I call Leeches. These are people who suck the energy from you, who make you feel bad about yourself and your life, complain, are negative, gossip, talk you into doing nothing, and bring you down.

The next step isn't rocket science. You need to rid your life of Leeches and replace them with Energizers. Yes, it's really that simple. It might not be easy, but it's simple. If you're struggling with eliminating the Leeches in your life, then give them a second chance. Tell them that you're on a mission to reach your goals and that you need positivity, constructive feedback and support. If they're not willing or able to do this for you, cut them loose. They'll be okay. They'll have plenty of friends to drown their blues away.

 

Robert Pagliarini is a CBS MoneyWatch columnist and the author of "The Other 8 Hours: Maximize Your Free Time to Create New Wealth & Purpose" and the national best-seller "The Six-Day Financial Makeove"

 

 

 

Copyright © 2011 CBS INTERACTIVE INC. DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES INC.