Companionship is always a mental experience; it is basically subjective. We companion only with qualities which we ourselves apprehend or entertain. The honest person serenely maintains a sense of integrity. The person who practices dishonesty believes he sees evasiveness and trickery even in the innocent.
If we want to improve the caliber of our relationships, we must begin by improving the nature of our thoughts. We live largely in our own mental atmosphere. We companion with thoughts, and it is these that relate us to others who are like-minded. Our friends do not satisfy us simply because they have blue eyes or wear red hats or are thin or fat. We are attracted to them by the mental qualities they reflect. We are drawn to them because their interests are along the same lines as ours or because they inspire us or give us new ideas.
As we improve in character, we respond more intelligently and understandingly to others. As our consciousness becomes brighter and more spiritual, we draw to us the interest of those who express the qualities we admire.
