No Man is An Island
An and old very true saying, “No man is an island” means that who and what you surround yourself with becomes an integral piece of the person you are. Live positively and become positivity.
To illustrate this concept, let’s use an example of two individuals walking into the same room. The first person walks into the room with high energy, a great attitude, and it’s like they’re vibrating on a “10”. The second person walks into the room with a bit of a negative attitude, low energy, and is vibrating more on a “3”. How do you think those two individuals are going to affect each other?
One thing is certain: neither will walk out at the same level. Both individuals will be affected in some way by the energy of the other. We all work very hard to remain steady and unaffected by negative people around us, but at some point, it’s inevitable.
I know you’ve spent time around people who didn’t add much substance to your life, or even people who have brought you down. Did you leave those individuals feeling better, worse, or unchanged about yourself even though your personal circumstances didn’t change at all?
We’re all strong, but we might not all be strong enough to never let another negative individual affect us. That’s why it’s so important to choose our friends and our surroundings very carefully. Only put yourself in situations that will edify you. That will bring you up. That will help you achieve your dreams and push you to become a better person.
Environment is Stronger Than Will
The simple truth is that your “environment is stronger than your will”. The environment you’ve placed yourself in will win every time. Because of this, there are several questions you need to ask yourself in order to take inventory of the impact your environment is having on your life:
- Who are you spending your time with?
- What programs do you watch?
- What books do you read?
If you’re spending your time with negative people, watching programs that don’t give much value to your life, or reading books that don’t edify the mind, it’ll undoubtedly impact your perception of life.
In addition, if you’re in a job that doesn’t promote growth, self-worth, or that leaves you feeling fulfilled – make that change. If you want to spend more time in nature, but never seem to have enough time – make the time. Apply for that dream position. Go on a hike. Bring a friend you haven’t connected with in a while.
Create the life you truly want to live for yourself.
Speak Kindly To Yourself
Frankly, it doesn’t stop there. Sometimes, the most detrimental person we spend time with is our own self. Especially when we are in a particularly bad place, negative self-talk will manifest itself in your actions and outlooks in subtle ways that sneak up on you if you don’t remain vigilant.
I’d comfortably bet that at one point or another, we’ve all said things to ourselves that weren’t particularly uplifting. Maybe we’ve even called ourselves names that we would never allow another person to utter our way.
“Why am I so stupid?” “I ALWAYS mess stuff up.” “My body/job/place in life/income/ability isn’t as good as that person’s…they’re just better.”
Truly think about that. Would you allow someone else to say those words to you? Conversely, if someone does speak to you in that manner, I’m also very comfortable saying that it’s time to re-evaluate that relationship.
Surround Yourself With Positivity
Life is hard. We get down on ourselves. It just happens. But, this is where the right people and an uplifting environment make all the difference. The good people you’ve chosen to be in your life are the individuals that pick you up and help you see the bigger picture.
If we have negative influences in our lives, they’ll contribute to making you feel small and inferior as you browse through Facebook or Instagram. This is because you’re only viewing snapshots of a life that you believe is better than yours. This outlook can make you negative. Keep in mind that it’s not that other individuals “fault” for sharing happy memories… the way you’re feeling is simply a projection. When we flip our perspective and learn to appreciate the good things in our own lives, we can in turn be happy for the successes and beautiful moments in other people’s lives.
If you think I’m only talking to you, or pointing fingers at you – I’m not. I remind myself of this every single day. I’m human. I have my own shortcomings. However, it’s that acceptance and acknowledgement that helps me flip my own perspective. In turn, those experiences are what makes me able to share this advice with you and help you grow in your own lives, as well.
Keep Good Momentum In Your Life
mo·men·tum/noun
Momentum just gets going. It doesn’t care if it’s good or bad. We all get knocked off course sometimes. In those moments, it’s imperative to position yourself to have the greatest chance of success in correcting the course.
- Be around people who inspire you.
- Read powerful material.
- Meditate.
To this end, I am very selective about who is in my inner circle and protective of those who are inside of it. I have been fortunate to have amazing people in my life who have helped me through difficult times.
When push comes to shove, you’ve got those people in your life, too. Spend more time with them and less with anyone who makes you feel anything other than the wonderful person you are. Trust me, it’ll make you a happier and more fulfilled individual in the long run.
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