Have you ever randomly said to yourself, ‘I need some new friends?’ More than likely, you have—and mostly likely, you do. Fortunately, as humans we have a unique way of knowing when we have outgrown people, places, and things. As hard as it may be to do, letting go is a part of self-love and leveling up. More importantly, it is an intricate part of growth and development. Sometimes we must be forced out of situations we would never leave if we had to do it on our own. But why are we like that?

What cripples our ability to end friendships that no longer serve us? Wanting to go to the next level shouldn’t make anyone who truly cares about our well-being feel slighted in any way. There’s a time in everyone’s life when self-reflection and a purpose audit must take place.

Years ago, I had a deep desire for more out of life. Unsure of where to start, I started with my surroundings. So, the first thing I decided to do was review my friend group. This required an immediate contact clean-up, and honestly, it was the hardest part. During this process of elimination, I discovered something that blew my mind: I learned that I had a lot of homegirls and no goalfriends. Talk about a reality check! This was one.

By definition, a homegirl is a cool best friend you can hang out and have fun with. By contrast, a goalfriend is an accountability partner you can create and achieve goals with. No shade, but I wanted to level up, and who I was hanging with was not in alignment with where I wanted to be, period. I needed to change my surroundings for the betterment of myself, and I unapologetically did just that. For me that meant planning instead of partying, studying instead of shopping, and getting out of my comfort zone instead of being complacent.

Though the days seemed long and far from fun, I grew closer to my purpose. For the first time in forever I was obedient in letting go of friendships that no longer served me. A heavy weight was lifted. A few feathers were ruffled, but I didn’t care. Finally, I was putting ME first.

Through networking, I gathered a host of goalfriends who I now hold near and dear to my heart. Our conversations are purposeful and intentional. We often help each other attain goals while tracking each other’s progress along the journey. We don’t just text or post praying hands in each other’s comments, we keep each other lifted in prayer.  Above all, we keep God at the center of everything we do in life and business.

As a wife, mother, and multifaceted entrepreneur, I have learned that having a group of goalfriends in my corner has contributed significantly to my ability to stay focused and successful. Although it is important to be your own cheerleader, it feels good to have genuine women in your corner cheering you on to be your best self—especially during times when you don’t have the courage to clap for yourself.

The old saying ‘you are the company you keep’ holds true. Good company and wise counsel increases chances of success and a promising future. Every girl needs a goalfriend who holds her accountable real bad. Intentional friendships should always elevate, inspire, and keep you in alignment with your purpose. Any friend who helps you become your best self and to live abundantly, as God promised, is a goalfriend.

Take a moment to think about who is in your corner. Do you have homegirls or goalfriends?