You are who you surround yourself with. What a potentially ominous yet insightful phrase. This phrase rings true for everyone and is one you should live by to remain fully aware of who you are or who you’ve become.

The people you surround yourself with play a role in several aspects of your life. The good news is that you have the power to change who you are around to align with your goals. But first, you must understand who you’re currently around and who you want to be around.

In this article, we’ll explain what this phrase means and how you can make simple changes to put yourself in an environment of growth.

You Are Who You Surround Yourself With – What Does It Mean?

Let’s start our explanation with a plain reading of the saying.

You are who you surround yourself with.

This phrase is saying that you are a product of those around you – in other words, you’re a product of your environment. This is saying that the people you surround yourself with influence several different aspects of your real life, including:

  • Your job
  • Your pastimes
  • Your goals
  • Your ambitions
  • Your happiness
  • Your future
  • Your motivation

Basically, those you surround yourself with influence and maybe even determine the decisions you make and the outcome of your life. That’s why it’s essential to surround yourself with the right people to get the support and motivation you need.

business people in meeting

Do You Surround Yourself With People Who Inspire You or Contribute to the Rut You’re Currently In?

Before diving into who you should surround yourself with, evaluating your current environment is essential. The first step is to become enlightened and figure out who you are currently surrounding yourself with.

There’s a chance that you already surround yourself with the right people, especially if you feel like you’re living a happy, fulfilling life.

However, if you don’t feel that way about your current environment and circle, you might not be surrounding yourself with people who are conducive to your goals. Ask yourself these questions:

  • Do the people you surround yourself with, in real life or on social media, uplift you or bring you down every chance they get?
  • Do you feel valued by those in your social circle?
  • Do the people around you want to grow the way that you’re looking to grow?
  • Do the people in your social circle seem more concerned about themselves and rarely about you?

So, who should you surround yourself with? Let’s find out.

You Are Who You Surround Yourself With – Who Should That Be? 

Choosing the people you surround yourself with doesn’t mean only surrounding yourself with successful people or even positive people. It’s about choosing people who you align with mentally and who bring you joy.

Here are a few factors to consider when figuring out who to surround yourself with.

People With Similar Mindsets

To cultivate growth in your life, it’s essential to surround yourself with people with similar mindsets.

Surrounding yourself with people with similar mindsets will ensure that you have a lot in common. Still, you’ll also feel more motivated knowing that others are going through a similar experience as you.

This isn’t to say that you should only surround yourself with people with similar mindsets, but that you should be aware if someone with a different perspective is dragging you down.

People Who Value Your Worth

Having a similar mindset isn’t the only factor you should consider when choosing the people you surround yourself with. It’s also important that the people around you value your worth.

You can surround yourself with intelligent people and leaders with similar goals. However, it’s essential to know how these people treat you. If someone takes advantage of you or doesn’t trust you, you should ask yourself if they’re the right person to have in your circle.

Prioritize those who show that they value you by:

  • Listening to and actually considering your opinion
  • Expressing gratitude and praise when appropriate
  • Offering their help when they see you struggling

People Who Thrive On Positivity

As mentioned, you shouldn’t necessarily only surround yourself with people who always have positive energy. Sometimes it’s good to have balance. However, the most important aspect of someone’s character to keep in mind is how they react to positivity.

If you have a friend or colleague who, whenever something positive happens, finds a way to turn it negative, that’s not the best person to surround yourself with.

Ideally, you want like-minded people in your circle to thrive off of positivity. Positivity is contagious, so when you have one uplifting person who can spread that happiness, the people around them will feel it too.

group of people enjoying

The Takeaway: Surround Yourself With the Right People

One final thought: your time is a gift, and you should be selective with the people you spend time with.

You’re a product of your environment, so you want to ensure that those around you reflect who you want to become, help you be a better person, and affect your life in a positive way. Surrounding yourself with good people won’t only help with your success and inspiration, but it will add to your happiness tenfold.

If you’re looking for guidance on this journey, 1428 Transformations is here to help. We can help you determine who the right people are and how to maintain a constructive environment. Reach out today to start the discussion.