One theory that has always stuck with me is the power of five. Motivational speaker and coach Jim Rohn once said “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Here’s a question for you to reflect on: who are these five people for you at this moment? During the time of Covid-19 and living overseas we may think that this is limited to the people that are physically in our homes or work spaces. Yet I want to encourage you to reflect on the following questions deeper.
Who do you have zoom calls or face time sessions with? How do you fill the free time in your life? What are the shows you binge watch on Netflix? What are the podcasts you listen, music you stream, or books you read? Are you doing these activities with intention? Are you aware of the impact they have on your life?
As you reflect on the five people who are the most prominent in your physical and virtual atmosphere, how would you describe them? They could be inspirational, complainers, entrepreneurs, jokesters, drama kings or queens, calm, content, distrusting, loyal, competent, spontaneous, health conscious, spiritual, philosophical, loving, fearful, athletic, artistic, and adventurers. The list is endless, and may not all be positive or negative attributes. They are a combination of all these characteristics, as are we. I encourage you to really take the time to dissect who influences you and your environment. What are the themes that begin to emerge of these people that are part of your life?
It’s important to note how these individuals impact your mood and the choices you make in your life. We have heard that negativity is contagious, but so are other emotions such as positivity, presence, and joy. Research has even shown that our peers’ eating habits can impact our choices of caloric intake, with some studies even noting that weight gain can be contagious. Despite all this, there is a silver lining. We do not have to mindlessly be a product of who we surround ourselves with. Take intentional action. What values are most important to you and are these influencers exemplifying this? If not, who can you begin to surround your world with? This is the time to curate your power of five.
It Only Takes A Smile 