The Power of Positive People

This little person has effected my life in so many positive and profound ways!

We've all heard about the power of positive thinking:  the theory that your thoughts can shape your life, the idea that whatever the mind expects, it gets.  I subscribe wholly to this mindset and credit positive thinking and visualization for many of the successes in my life (along with hard work and dedication, of course). Also known as the law of attraction it's the belief that like attracts like, and by putting good energy out there into the world, more often than not, good energy will come back to you.  Sure it's a little new-agey and hippy-dippy, but what can I say?  It's worked for me.  But there is more... What about the power of the people around you?  Can they effect you?  Do they have the potential to influence your thoughts?  Steal your energy?  Zap your joy?  You betcha!

We hear from a lot of people who share our dream of cutting ties from a "normal" life and living on their own terms.  More often than not they mention how people in their lives don't support their dreams and aspirations.  I'm not suggesting cutting ties with well-meaning friends and family who simply don't understand your choices, but perhaps it's time to take stock of the people who surround you.  Are they positive people?  Happy?  Do they enjoy life? Are they fellow dreamers who do exciting things?  They say that married couples should spend time with other happily married couples.  That, somehow, spending time with people in healhty and successful marriages will effect your marriage in a positive way.  So it follows suit that if you are a dreamer, perhaps you should spend time with other people who dream?  Or better yet, other dreamers who do...

There are so many people in this world doing incredible things, large and small, and living their dreams in their own ways.  They need not have climbed mountains or circumnavigated the globe to be an inspiration; maybe they started their own small business, trekked the Inca trail, or transformed themselves from a couch potato into a marathon runner - in one way or another, no matter how big or small, these people took a risk and accomplished a goal.  These are the types of people who you want to spend time with - the kinds of people who believe that "where there is a will, there is a way".  There plenty of people in this world who have nothing but positive energy for those around them; they invigorate you, excite you...they inspire dreams and awaken possibilities within. These are the kinds of people who, when you tell them your dreams, they listen excitedly and nod YES.

Of course, you will inevitably meet people that will steal your joy and zap your energy.  They will try to make you insecure, make you doubt your plans and question your motivations.  Some are very obvious, while others are wolves in sheep's clothing.  Beware of these people.  They are fake, disingenuous, insincere and despite what they might think, they are pretty easy to spot.  When you spend time with these folks they don't lift your spirit, they make you feel badly about yourself and they leave you a little heavier than before.  They're passive aggressive and often manipulative.  They're usually some combination of bitter, jealous, angry and/or scared.  I have a few acquaintances of this sort in my life (we all do), and several more read this blog and some make nasty comments from time to time.  I limit the time and energy I spend on/with these folks.  I simply hit "delete" and move on.

There's this popular belief called the "Average of Five" which states that you are the average of your five closest friends.  It's an interesting concept that says the five people closest to you have a tremendous impact on you mentally, spiritually, physically and emotionally.  Of course it goes without saying that we all have our bad days.  No one is perfect and can burp sunshine and fart rainbows all the time, but I'm speaking generally here.... Who are your closest five? Are they making your life better or dragging you down? Are they positive Polly's or negative Nancy's?  An even better question is who are YOU?  Do you enrich the lives of others? Are your motivations positive?  Do you allow the people around you to dream?