22/09/2019
You ➡️ 5 people closest to you
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There’s a saying that we’re the sum of the five people with whom we spend most time with, I’m sure you’ve heard of it.
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But it’s true, our immediate social environment can shape the path of our behaviors and beliefs as much as our physical environment does.
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✅ We tend to hang around with people who have similar values and backgrounds. ⠀⠀
✅ The people around us tend to share and reinforce our beliefs and choices.
✅ We tend to look like the people around us.
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Sure this can be safe and comfortable since we get the benefit of people who understand us.
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On the other hand no one challenges us to think, look, or act differently.
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The thing is that social and physical environments interact:
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▶️ If we’re active, we’ll spend more time in gyms than other gym people, and less time in, say, bars with people.
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▶️ If we’re musicians, we’ll have more music and less silence, interact at concerts and playing music with friends
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▶️ If we have an outdoor job we’ll spend all day outdoors, getting fresh air and exercise with outdoor workers.
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And we know that there can be punishments for breaking “unwritten laws” of social contract. For example:
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▶️ Quit drinking and your beer buds are likely to get on your case for your glass of cordial.
▶️ Show up wearing an outfit that doesn’t match your circles norms, and someone is cracking a joke on you for looking the way you do.
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So these 5 people can shape our path and affect:
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➕our sense of identity
➕ our values
➕ our priorities
➕ our goals
➕ our physical environment
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Ask yourself:
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1️⃣ Who are the 5 people in my life with this power right now?
2️⃣ Are those 5 people to whom I WANT to give this power?
3️⃣ What are the good things about the influence of these 5 people?
4️⃣ What do these 5 people contribute to my values, priorities, identity, and core beliefs?
5️⃣ Do I need anyone new to enhance my circle?
6️⃣ Is my circle diverse? Could I mix it up?
Your 5 should be game changers. People who bring out your best.
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Ask yourself if the current social and physical environment is working for you? What could you change/add?