Take a look at the people in your inner circle. This means anyone that you spend time with or talk to on a regular basis. Now, take a moment to think about how each of these individuals impacts your life. Do they inspire you to hit your goals? Are they supportive? Most importantly, are you proud of the person you are when you’re with them?
It may not seem like it, but the people you surround yourself with have a huge effect on who you are. For example, if you spend time with unmotivated friends, you’re more likely to become unmotivated. If you hang out with family members who have a positive outlook, you’ll probably be more positive. It’s not just a theory—it’s science! Here are some of our tips for building a circle that helps you become the best version of yourself.
Be a good friend.
The absolute most important step to surrounding yourself with great people: Be a great person. You could find the best friends in the entire world, but if you’re not a great friend, too? It’s likely those people aren’t going to want to spend much time around you. Make sure you can check all of these boxes before expecting others to be able to do the same:
- Be honest and trustworthy.
- Spend time together.
- Be a good listener.
- Give more often than you take (and be kind!).
- Love your people without judgement.
Remember, establishing great relationships starts with you! Of course, there are so many other things that go into being a good friend, but this list is a good starting point.
Look for similarities.
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to get along with people who share similarities with you? Maybe you’re in the same career field, you have the same hobbies, or you’re both insanely passionate about chocolate chip cookies. No matter how big or small the similarities are, finding parts of yourself in someone else is cool. And it’s grounds for establishing a relationship that lasts.
It’s also important to make sure that the people you’re closest to have a similar mindset to you. You have goals you want to achieve—your people should be goal-oriented, driven, and supportive of your dreams. They should inspire you to work hard and go even further than you thought you could. And in turn, remember to do all of that for them, as well!
If you surround yourself with people who are successful, passionate, and motivated, it’s likely you’ll follow suit. If you are a good friend, you’ll attract good friends in return.
Ready to learn more valuable life lessons? Read our blog post on modern lessons we can learn from classic movies.
