Maintaining happy, healthy relationships in your life, whether they’re family, romantic or friendships, has a significant impact on your overall happiness and ability to thrive. Solid, meaningful relationships are important in your adult life. All good relationships require mutual respect and understanding but sometimes we have to hit the pause button to evaluate the people closest to us and determine if these people are nurturing and positive or if they’re toxic and bringing us down. If you’re questioning the relationships in your life and wondering if you’re attracting the right kind of people, we’ve got a few tips to steer you in the right direction.

• Before you set out to find a new romance or friendship, know what you’re looking for in a person. Think about the kind of person you want to bring into your life. Take stock of your own principles and values and evaluate others based on this list and make sure there’s significant overlap.

• Be true to yourself. Do you let people know the real and authentic you? If you’re projecting someone you’re not, you may be attracting the wrong people.

• Know where to look for the kind of people you want to have in your life. Good people are out there and you can play a part in finding them. Studies show that spending time with people that are like-minded and have the same goals as you put you in the right environment to meet the right people. Think about your hobbies and your interests and join groups and clubs that match up.

• Be open to new people and situations but trust your instincts. You never know where a new relationship might be found whether it’s a new business connection, a potential romance or a new friendship. When you open yourself up to new opportunities you give the right people the chance to meet you, but trust your instincts and verify that new people entering your life share your values.

By Justin Lavelle, Communications Director for http://www.peoplelooker.com