When you break out of a bad cycle it can be easy to fall back into old habits. Some people need to keep away from the source of the problem and try to break new ground. It is hard because we are socially conditioned and it can be hard to make new friends and not repeat what you escaped from.

A lot of people will avoid anything to do with their old life and that is understandable. I think what gets missed is it isn’t just about getting away from the problem people and the issues but changing within yourself. Learning that you aren’t restricted by your past or your life conditioning and allowing yourself to grow.

When I was younger I was in some bad crowds and I found it was beneficial to get away from the problem people but the hardest part for me was changing on the inside. At first I felt lonely, rejected and my old crew were like a surrogate family I had lost. Although even though I felt that way at first I knew the long term benefits were going to make me so much stronger and I would grow.

None of this was straightforward and in a way this initial break from who I was supposed to be helped me deal with many challenges because life never stops. The challenges will always arise but if you become strong within yourself every challenge is something you are more likely to deal with better than if you didn’t have inner strength.