The type of people we surround ourselves with will ultimately have a massive impact on our levels of success in life.
What does this mean?
Have you ever heard the saying, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”
This quote was originally coined by Jim Rohn, self help author and motivational speaker.
What does this really mean?
It eludes to the notion that who you spend time with has a significant influence of the type of person you will become and the decisions you will make in life.
The kind of people you interact with has the ability to influence us on a conscious level and with our beliefs and behaviours in a particular area.
People have the capacity to elevate us or bring us down to their level. So where might this apply in life, I hear you say? Well, it has the capacity to influence in all decisions and in all areas of life.
You will EARN the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with.
You will have the average level of SUCCESS in life of the 5 people you spend the most time with.
Just think about, you will probably have the average levels of HEALTH of the 5 people you spend the most time with. Let’s unpack that a little more. If you spend time with unhealthy people then you are probably going to make similar decisions in regards to what you eat, how much you exercise and how you regard and prioritise health. On the contrary, if you spend time with people who are really health conscious, then they will probably influence and motivate you to make similar decisions to them. With health as our number 1 asset, it’s important to find people who share similar values or ideas around health.
If you hang out with a group of successful, positive individuals who believe in taking responsibility for their lives, you will become a proactive individual who shapes his/her future. If you hang out with a bunch of pessimists who believe that the world is out to get them and there is nothing worthwhile, you will start to descend into a pool of negativity at some point.
So once we know this principle, what are we going to do about it?
Firstly, it’s about awareness and understanding that the people we surround ourselves with, will ultimately have an influence of the person we will become. Secondly, sometimes we need to “weed the garden” and create distance between ourselves and the people in our life that don’t make us better or elevate us.
On reflection, it can be beneficial to ask yourself the following questions.
Who are the 5 people I currently spend the most time with?
Do they match who I want to be in the future?
Who are the top 5 people who embody the qualities I desire?
How can I increase contact with them?
By choosing who you spend time with, you literally shape your future. Start by examining the people you spend the most time around. Consider if these people are enabling you toward your envisioned self. If they are not, identify and increase contact with the people who will enable you to become the best person you can be. It works every time!
About The Author - Dr Adrian Couzner
Dr Adrian Couzner is the Director of CHIRO H3 Sydney City and Lower North Shore . Adrian graduated from the University of Adelaide with a Bachelor of Science in 1992 and then completed his Master of Chiropractic at Macquarie University in 1994.
