If a negative atmosphere pervades where you live or work, go

Richard M. DeVos, a builder of enterprises and teacher of perseverance, once declared: “If a negative atmosphere pervades where you live or work, go elsewhere. Seek out friends, business associates, and mentors with positive attitudes who share your goals and best interests.” In these words lies not only practical advice, but ancient wisdom: the soul becomes like the company it keeps. To dwell in shadows is to become shadow; to dwell among light is to be illumined.

The essence of his teaching is that environment shapes destiny. A negative atmosphere—whether of envy, cynicism, or despair—seeps into the heart, poisoning ambition and dulling hope. To remain in such a place is to chain oneself to failure. By contrast, surrounding oneself with positive companions, who uplift and share one’s vision, breathes courage into weary hearts and multiplies strength. The soil of one’s spirit, like the soil of the earth, must be tended by the right climate to bear fruit.

History bears witness to this truth in the tale of Socrates. He chose to gather his companions not from the halls of Athens’ cynics, but from the eager youth who sought wisdom. In the company of Plato, Xenophon, and others, he planted seeds of thought that outlasted empires. Had he dwelt only with those who scorned virtue, his teachings might have withered. But by choosing disciples who shared his thirst for truth, he ensured his legacy would grow eternal.

DeVos’s words are also a call to courage. To go elsewhere is no easy task, for it demands leaving comfort, facing uncertainty, and seeking new paths. Yet the ancients remind us that exile from darkness is the first step toward light. Just as Aeneas left the burning ruins of Troy to find the destined fields of Rome, so too must we turn from destructive places to seek out those who kindle rather than extinguish our flame.

Let this teaching be carried forward: guard your spirit as you would a treasure. If your dwelling, your work, or your companions drain your hope, depart from them without fear. Seek instead the company of those who inspire, uplift, and walk beside you in truth. For as Richard M. DeVos declares, success is not wrought by solitary striving alone, but by the fellowship of kindred souls who share your goals and nurture your best self. In such company, even the hardest road becomes a joyful pilgrimage.