Energies are contagious. And so are your habits. You become who you surround yourself with. Everything in your environment eventually becomes you. What are you if not a mirror that reflects whatever you put around yourself.
As kids, our parents always asked us to choose our friends wisely. They would associate our behavior based on how they perceived our friends. And as judgmental as it sounds, there is a certain truth behind this.
If you are friends with criminals, you not only run the risk of getting on the wrong side of the law, but as you get familiar with them, you begin to feel that their life is more and more normal. Your moral compass gets tilted in the wrong direction because your activities don’t seem as bad as they used to be.
If you are friends with complainers or those who have a negative outlook on life, it would be hard for you to remain positive around them. Being friends with people who make everything dramatic will make it hard for you to find your own peace because, around them, even your life is dramatic. If you are friends with liars, you will unconsciously spill out lies when things go out of control because this is the escape mechanism you have learned by watching them.
“You are an average of the top 5 people in your life”.
The people you surround yourself with will shape who you are. This is passive growth. The only choice for you here is to choose and filter your friends. You get used to the behavior, attitude, and habits of your friends so much that it rubs off on you. The dream in your heart may be bigger than the environment you are in, which is why sometimes you need to get out of that environment to see those dreams come true.
How do we choose whom to surround ourselves with?
You can assess what kind of people you are surrounded by asking these questions to yourself.
Who are the ambitious and passionate people in your friend’s circle?
The doers in your circle?
How many of your friends are problem solvers?
Who is on a similar journey as you?
Which friend inspires you?
Around whom do you feel like your best self?
Is there anyone who provides genuine feedback?
Start assessing your friend circle and see whether they are pushing you to grow or holding you back. You may not see the impact of your circle directly, but behind the scene, they are always affecting the choices you make and the things you choose to do.
Mind you, in no way am I saying to ditch the people you love because they fall into a category that isn’t exactly influential or motivational. Outgoing and social friends will create a sense of kinship and bonding and you can love them with all your heart but keep them just one step away from your influential peer group. It is this balance you should strike on your table.
So, choose your company wisely. Your direction in life may depend on it. And while you’re at it, have the courage to be a good friend for those who choose you to be in their top 5.
As I come to the end of this blog, I want you to ask yourself, again.
Who do you spend the most time with?
Who are some of the people you admire?
Are those two groups the same? Why not?
Why not?
If you like to listen to more self-help and personal development content, you can head over to the podcast section or listen on your favorite streaming platform.
