We are the average of the five people we spend the most time with – Jim Rohn
One of the biggest influences on our lives are the people we spend the most time with. These people shape our everyday thoughts and oftentimes our beliefs. If the people you spend the most time with tend to be negative, is it any wonder you may struggle with positivity?
Some people you choose to be around. Your friends are at the top of the list. Others, you can’t hand pick. Your family, co-workers, and other people in places of influence in your life aren’t always people you would choose if you had the option. If the majority of the people in your life are negative, it can be very hard to adopt a consistently positive mindset.
What Can You Do If You Need More Positive People in Your Life?
If you look to the left and look to the right and the people you see tend to be negative, you need some positive people to spend time with. There are things you can do to increase the positivity in your social circle.
Find new friends. If your friends aren’t positive, that’s one of the easiest ways to make changes. Finding new people to do activities with is as easy as making an intentional change. Pay attention to the people who seem to be happiest and consistently look on the bright side. Engage them and make an effort to go to lunch or grab coffee. Remember, good friendships are more about quality than quantity. You don’t need a dozen friends to have a positive social life.
Limit your exposure to negative people- If your social circle has a negative vibe, limit your exposure. This includes toxic family too. Reduce the number of commitments you make with negative extended family. Many people expose themselves to negative family members because they think it will offend someone if they don’t.. Find clever ways to limit your exposure like shortening your visits or making other plans. Ultimately, your mental health matters more than being around negative people.
Find a positive outlet- If you are in situations where you must endure negative people and can’t do a work-around, find an outlet to pump yourself full of positivity before and after. Try listening to upbeat music or encouraging podcasts to and from work. Do a virtual workout with a motivating leader to get energized and feel great. Watch a happy movie or read a wonderful book with hopeful and positive characters. You can counteract negativity by flooding your life with positivity.
Your social circle is influencing your attitude. The more positive your social life is, the more positive you’re going to be. Be sure to find the highest quality, most positive people you can to do life with.
