If you’re feeling stuck and struggling to make the progress you want, take a look around you… Are you spending time with the right people who could help you achieve your goals, your vision, your dream of success? Read more >> http://christine…

The biggest influence on your success that you might not suspect

If you’re feeling stuck and struggling to make the progress you want, but you haven’t quite been able to figure out why, take a look around you… Are you spending time with the right people who could help you achieve your goals, your vision, your dream of success?

Interesting social psychology research explains how people normally choose their peers. A majority of children, teens and even adults select their friends based on proximity over other factors (which is aptly named The Proximity Principle), which may or may not end up in relationships that support you and your ambitions.

For instance, in a classroom, who are you going to make friends with? You normally choose the one beside you. You do, not because you have the same interests, likes, dislikes, favorites… but because that one beside you is the one nearest to your proximity. It is even easier to start a conversation and make friends, right?

As preeminent business thought leader Jim Rohn says: “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”

To put it simply, who you hang out with (professionally and personally) plays a huge role in the outcomes in your life.

If you’re feeling like you are not getting anywhere, then take time to look around you. Who are the people influencing you and the direction of your life? Who are the ones who contribute to your reasoning and your mindset, either intentionally or by default?

Questions to help you uncover who’s influencing you

Who are the people you spend the most time with?
How did they become close to you?
Was it on purpose or based solely on convenience?
Do you share the same visions, goals and aspirations in life?
Do these people hold you to a high regard? Or do they undermine you and your efforts, even if not done intentionally?

Make friends with those who are a few steps ahead of you to become more successful even faster

If you want to see huge changes in your life, and thus achieve your definition of success, you need to surround yourself with people who hold an even bigger vision for their own lives than you are currently imagining for yourself, who have a higher level of skill in areas you want to or need to master, and who see possibilities where you might not be able to yet.

Remember that your life is a reflection of your internal vision, priorities and values… and the people you surround yourself with reflect what those are. So start today and exert more effort in choosing the right people who will support your aspirations and challenge you to grow beyond your comfort zone.

Below are some positive affirmations to inspire and motivate you in changing how you choose the people around you. Enjoy! Go ahead and pin these and share them to help inspire others, too!

“Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.”
- Mark Ambrose

“You become like the five people you spend the most time with.
Choose carefully.” - Jim Rohn

“Bad company corrupts good character.” - 1 Corinthians 15:33

“Surround yourself with those who only lift you higher.”
- Oprah Winfrey

“Walk with the dreamers, the believers, the courageous, the cheerful, the planners, the doers, the successful people with their heads in the clouds and their feet on the ground.” - Wilfred Peterson