You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with.

Jim Rohn said "You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with".  Without thinking too hard, who are the last 5 people you spent time with?  Everyone you come into contact with counts.  Is it your Mom who says she believes in you but then comes over and "re-washes" your dishes?  Is it your co-worker in the next cubicle who is constantly complaining (even if it's not directed at you)?  Is it your significant other who asks about your day and waits to hear what you have to say with anticipation?  Is it a motivational speaker on a CD that you may not know personally but you listen to on the way home every day? Is it your favorite TV show about crime investigation?  Yes, I am including EVERYTHING that speaks into your life.  Whether you realize it or not, ANYTHING that enters your brain will affect you.  Let me give you 2 examples...

Have you ever watched a movie where the lawyer baits the witness to get angry on the stand... and the opposing lawyer yells "objection!"?  You've probably heard the judge say to the jury disregard what just happened.  Really?  Whether we think it affects or not, once we have witnessed or heard something, it does influence our thoughts and sometimes our decisions.

And, you've probably been seeing the wildfires right now in Arizona.  Once there is a fire burning near you, you can't realistically believe that the fire can pass through you without causing damage right?  Well, I think that's one of the best visuals for seeing what happens when you allow the people around you to poison your mind.  

You see, your thoughts influence your belief and confidence which in turn influence your actions which of course influences your results.  Your success begins with your thoughts.  Anything that enters your mind through your eyes & ears does affect your thoughts.

So, you are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with.  What are your action items?  This is not permission for you to divorce your spouse or cut off your family.  This is not permission for you to tell other people that they need to be more positive.  However, you can certainly limit what you share with those people in your life that you notice don't respond or contribute to you positively.  If you have noticed that your friends are constantly bringing you down, maybe you can spend less time with them or guide exactly HOW you spend time with them.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

1) What kind of person am I to the people around me?  Would I choose to spend more time with me or less?  Change starts with you.

2) With those that I spend time with, do I feel better or worse about myself when I've been around them?

3) Since we are an average of those around us, do I spend time with people who are where I want to be?

4) Do I spend time with people who challenge me to be better than I am?

5) Am I willing to get uncomfortable in order to improve myself?

You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with.  Who do you need to spend less time with?  How can you improve your circle of influence?  This concept is so much more powerful than you will ever know!  Let's go out and raise the bar by being a person of excellence in everything we do!