ASSOCIATIONS

You’ve probably heard this saying: “we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with.” I truly believe this.

At a glance, one might think that means there are only five people that I should hang around with, however that’s not accurate.

Four people stand arm-in-arm at sunset on a hilltop, facing a scenic view. A bright sun creates a warm, golden glow.

Hopefully, you have lots of different aspects to your life. The categories that I like to focus on are physical, spiritual, professional, relational and financial. While there is overlap in many of these areas, you might have five specific individuals that exemplify each one.

For example, let’s examine the physical aspect. Who are the five people you know that have their fitness and nutrition on point? Nobody is perfect, but you observe they have the lifestyle and habits locked in on what you want to achieve in this category. Being around these individuals will help you raise your health and fitness levels.

People exercising outdoors in a sunny park, doing high knees. Trees and a fence in the background. Trainer in a white shirt guides them.

The opposite unfortunately holds true as well. If the individuals that you’re surrounded with do not elevate you to what you want to achieve, the harsh reality is, they are bringing that aspect down for you. It doesn’t mean you need to cut them out of your life, but it might mean less time together, or in this case, certainly when it comes time to get your workout in.

In the upcoming year, let’s not only focus on surrounding ourselves with those that make us better, but also giving the same benefits to others as an example.