Your Circle Shapes Your Life
“Bad company corrupts good character.” — 1 Corinthians 15:33
The best relationships don’t just make us feel better. They make us want to be better.
There is an old saying, popularized by Jim Rohn, that we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with. Think about that for a moment.
The people we surround ourselves with influence how we think, how we act, what we believe is possible, and ultimately, who we become.
And there’s actually science behind this idea.
Researchers Nicholas Christakis and James Fowler studied thousands of people over decades and found that happiness and certain health behaviors tend to cluster within social networks. In one study, people whose nearby friends became happy were more likely to become happy themselves.
Another study at Dartmouth College found that randomly assigned college roommates influenced one another’s academic performance and social decisions.
The lesson? Our environment matters. And the people in it matter even more.
One of the most important investments we make in life isn’t in stocks, bonds, or our businesses. It’s in our relationships.
Surround yourself with people who complain, blame others, and see the worst in everything, and eventually that perspective can become your own. Surround yourself with people who are grateful, curious, disciplined, and optimistic, and those qualities have a way of rubbing off, too.
This doesn’t mean we should abandon people who are struggling. Quite the opposite. We should be there for them. But there’s a difference between helping someone through a difficult season and allowing someone else’s negativity to become the foundation of your own life.
So here’s a question worth asking ourselves: Who are the five people having the greatest influence on my life today? Are they helping me become the person I want to be? Am I doing the same for them?
Because just like investing, the small influences we experience every day compound over time.
You can’t have the right life with the wrong people. Choose your circle wisely.
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Author: Matt Miller
Matt Miller has done many things in his young life...in addition to just surviving. In 2002, Matt left behind person he once was as his life was suddenly changed forever by a horrendous mountain climbing accident. Diving for his falling father, Matt fell over 4,000 feet before miraculously stopping just short of the ragid cliffs. Through a night of survival and pain, Matt persevered but lost most of his fingers and toes as a result from frostbite. Matt does everything from public speaking, one-on-one consulting, firm strategy, as well as company retreat facilitation. With a seasoned investment background and passion for educating the investment world, Matt also can't resist sharing his comments from time to time on markets. Matt is also an avid ultra runner and outdoor enthusiast...with a big love for spending time in the Grand Canyon.