If you think that willpower and motivation are the driving forces behind our success, when we work toward our goals, you are mistaken.
Research has shown that our environment has more impact on our behavior than we think. Where we live, our daily routines and the people we surround ourselves with are key drivers in how successful we are.
There is a quote by Jim Rohn that says:
"You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with."
The people who you spend the most time with shape who you are. They determine the conversations that are had and these conversations begin to affect your attitude. As a result they can influence your behavior and in the long term, your results.
This can be a positive or a negative, depending on who you are surrounding yourself with.
There is no avoiding the fact that some people in our lives are comfortable in their comfort zone and their limiting beliefs. These people will unintentionally try to hold you back as you attempt to change you life, because change scares them. It's nothing personal.
There will also be people in your life who propel you forward and want you to grow. These people will push you to be the best possible version of yourself. These are people who embrace and consistently work on having a growth mindset - you want to surround yourself with these people!
You can't have a positive life if you surround yourself with negative people.
We need to come to terms with the above statement, if we want to succeed on the path toward our goals.
That doesn't mean that you need to cut out family and friends who are stuck in their limiting beliefs. It just means that we need to limit our exposure to them and make sure that we grow our circle of people who we admire and who inspire us in our goals of achieving a grow mindset.
Some questions to ask yourself:
Who do you spend the most time with?
Who are the people you admire most?
Are those two groups of people the same?
If you answered no to that last question, how can you begin to change that?
Another part of our environment is our home. It's where we spend the majority of our time, especially during these days with COVID-19 rules in place.
How does your home make you feel?
Does it spark positivity and creativity in you?
If not, how can you change that?
If you feel uninspired and defeated by the space you spend most of your time in, you need to address that. Typically our spaces just need a little TLC and decluttering. It's hard to feel free and open to change if you are surround by a lot of clutter.
Clutter often makes us feel weighed down and trapped, so grab a garbage bag and start addressing it. Ditch the junk, donate the rest or make some extra cash by selling it on-line.
Another great way to lighten the mood in your home is to open up the blinds and/or windows. Letting some light and fresh air in can really boost your mood. It's amazing what an impact something so simple can have on our minds - don't overlook the small things!
The lesson here is that we need to be mindful of our environments.
We are in control of who we allow to occupy our time and what our surroundings are like.
We cannot sit back and passively accept things the way they are, if we want our lives to change. We need to work for it and create the change we want to see.
There is no black and white road map for this. It all depends on your goals, your dreams and what direction you would like your life to move in.
The best advice I can give on a broad scale, is to sit down and answer the questions I have proposed here. Then start working on a plan to shift things in the direction you need them to go. Add in some time spent on building a daily routine and you will be on your way!
The direction of your life is up to you - what are you going to do today to ensure it's moving on the correct path? Listen and subscribe to the podcast version of this blog HERE
