You can't help being influenced by those around you. Choose to hang with positive people, get to know the kind of people that believe that all things are possible if you put out the effort. Lose the losers in your life, you don't have time for the "poor me" crowd. They will just darg you down. Make sure your friends are the kind of people that will not let you sink into self pity but will be there with a hand up when you need it. Make damn sure your hand is ready to reach out when they need it to.

Dave