Who You Surround Yourself With Matters More Than You Think
I recently read something that has really stuck with me:
“You can ride a bike into a headwind alone… but it takes a lot more effort than riding with a group headed the same direction as you."
Now you’re probably thinking, “what does that even mean?” Let me explain!
Why Environment Matters
Your environment is one of the most influential factors in getting to where you’re trying to go.
For example, if everyone around you constantly complains, skips workouts, or makes excuses, those behaviors start to feel normal (which means you’re naturally going to slip into them too). BUT the opposite is just as true! If you're around people who take responsibility for their actions (and inactions), train consistently, and fuel their bodies properly… you'll want to do that too (simply as a byproduct of wanting to fit the norm).
Now, I am not saying that you have to cut off everyone who doesn’t think exactly like you. But I do encourage you to be really intentional about who gets the most access to you.
Personally, I want to be surrounded by people who hold me to a higher standard and constantly push me to be better.
Research Backs This!
This isn’t just something I am coming up with. There’s real research behind it!
A study in the New England Journal of Medicine tracked over 12,000 people for 32 years and found that a person's chances of becoming obese increased by 57% when a close friend became obese (this was also true for siblings and spouses).
The same researchers found the reverse works just as well. When someone quit smoking, their close friends' odds of quitting increased by 36%!
So, this means your habits and the habits of the people closest to you tend to move together… for better or worse.
Things to Think About
Be honest with yourself about who gets the majority of your time and energy.
Seek out (or stay close to) people who are already doing the habits you want to adopt.
Be that person for someone else. Your consistency can make it normal for them too!
I started LWC Workouts to provide a space for women who want to improve while being surrounded by other women doing the same!
I know that no one is going to be perfect. That’s not the goal. The goal is learning to let hardship make us stronger in the long haul. And when you surround yourself with women who are doing the same thing… that process moves a whole lot more smoothly!
