How does it make you feel when someone asks how you are, but obviously couldn't care less about your answer? How do you feel when someone, who says they care about you, belittles your efforts or puts you down?  

If you are like most people, things like this hurt your feelings. But did you know that if it happens enough, it could also damage your self-esteem? It's true. It is hard to maintain a high opinion of yourself when those who are closest to you are always trying to pull it down. Of course, the reason they do so in the first place is because of their own poor self-opinion, not because there is anything wrong with you. But when you are experiencing their judgments and criticisms, it can be hard to keep this in mind.

Obviously, if you have a choice, you want to stay away from these kinds of people - the ones who are always evaluating how you look, how well you do things, how moral you are, how witty you seem, and letting you know that you never quite measure up.

I have found that the best people to associate with are those who do two important things at the same time. They act as a mirror that reflects your good points while accepting you just as you are. They also expect excellence from you and continually encourage you to use your full potential. In other words, they see the good in you that sometimes you don't even see, and they tell you about it, often.

These are the people who bring out the greatness in others and these are the people you want to make a regular part of your life. Who is that person in your life? Who is the person who you need to avoid?