Who are your top five?

“Eventually you have to consciously choose the people around you, because like it or not, they’ll influence what you believe is possible for yourself.” ~ Denise Duffield-Thomas Have you ever heard the above quote or one similar to it? What immediately came to mind? For most, the thought of having to uproot themselves from people or places they’ve grown comfortable with is quite daunting. Many people don’t like change and would prefer to attain they’re desired level of success without a full life overhaul, without hitting their re-set button. Similar to installing software for a new peripheral device and trying to make use of its benefits without first, resetting the system. You generally only get a portion of the devices usability, if you even receive that. If you are like many of us, you come from a poverty mentality background. Meaning that even if you weren’t considered financially poor, your environment regarded money and success as something you would always have to struggle to attain. Scarcity mindset, it’s also often called. This way of thinking does not only damage your possibility of expanding your socio-economic status and overall emotional well-being, it also assists in surrounding you with others who think the same way. Perpetual osmosis occurs in all social settings, you rub off on them, and they rub off on you. Unfortunately, lazier habits and thinking tend to win the race. The poor surroundings is less about the individuals involved but instead the poverty and scarcity mentality that plagues the group. It’s the condition of the group. Meaning that everyone is subject to the same influence if they decide to join or remain a participant in that group. “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” ~Jim Rohn Who are your five? Be honest. What is their mind set? Be objective. Do they have relationships with their children that you desire with your own? Do they make the type of money you would consider prosperous? Are they in the type of healthy, long-term relationships or marriages you aspire to? Are they emotionally intelligent? Or do they often think life isn’t fair and cry victim at every turn? Do they strive for purpose filled lives of depth and peace? Do they have a high self-esteem that is reflected in their life choices? Do they truly believe in themselves and are their actions in accordance with that belief? Are they financially stable? Or are they paycheck to paycheck, broke? What characteristics are most important for you to achieve? Come up with your own list. Write down the names of your five closest connections. Pose maybe ten questions that are really important to what YOU feel creates a successful life. Now decide if your surroundings are conducive to helping you grow in these areas? When I wanted to finish a novel two years ago, I logged onto Meetup.com and met some writers. One of the ladies and I became fast friends. We both finished our novels within a years’ time and I had the privilege of discussing writing styles and techniques with someone who truly enjoyed it the same as I did. We didn’t bore each other. We enjoyed healthy word count competitions that inspired and motivated the both of us. Are your top five in a position to influence you successfully in the direction of any of your long-term goals? If not, this is a problem. This doesn’t mean you should turn your back on friends and family, instead love them deeper and without the influence of their mentality, from a distance. If they truly don’t believe in themselves and their own capabilities, (and I mean truly believe with conscious effort and action, not just words) how can they honestly encourage you to fly to your highest heights. They don’t know what they DON’T know, and neither do you. You have to be willing to get outside of your comfort ruts, to secure a new handle and perspective on the goals that are important to you. If you love to talk about personal growth, you MUST be around others who are equally fueled by manifesting and growing or your own desire to do so will not be fed and even worst, squelched. We have ALL of the power the universe has to offer inside of us, the only stipulation required to make use of it, is that you have to actually believe it. I was learning how to float in a pool this past weekend and constantly had to remember that I was always okay in the water as long as I don’t let the stuff on the outside of me (water), get on the inside of me. But how long can you hold your breath? Soon you’ll have to inhale more air and if you aren’t above the water when you go for that much needed breath, YOU WILL TAKE IN WATER. After all, that’s nature’s law. This is how it goes. The water doesn’t hate you, it isn’t trying to intentionally harm you, it’s just doing what it naturally does. The group isn't out to get you. It’s very hard to become a great swimmer if you are not surrounded by anyone who encourages you to learn to swim. For them growth in that area equals death. The likely scenario is that those who are afraid of water will also talk you out of learning how to swim. Because they just don’t know. You have to get around people who know or want to know about the things that drive your spirit. This is how we grow. Analyze your five and hit the reset button. Don't you want to gain direct access to the power, the full benefits of all the devices the universe provides? Who are your five? ~Jam www.JameelahRaoof.com