As a wellness and martial arts coach, I've witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of surrounding oneself with an uplifting and supportive community. In this blog post, we'll explore the life changing benefits of nurturing your circle of influence and how it can supercharge your personal growth, mental well-being, and overall wellness journey.
Imagine a time when you have really struggled in life. Losing a job, relationships ending, families changing; life throws us it’s fair share of challenges. Who was there for you? How did you cope? If you had a strong support system around you, you likely got through that hard time a lot easier. If you went through it alone, with little support, you likely struggled far more to overcome the difficulty times. You may have been plagued with anxiety, depression, shame, and guilt as isolation has been shown as one of the worst ways to cope with personal struggle. Whether you are experiencing a small failure or grappling with a life-altering adjustment, your supportive community and non-judgmental peers can be your mental fortresses, providing solace during tough times and elevating your mental strength. Our mental well-being is profoundly influenced by our social connections. A study in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology (2019) highlights that individuals with strong social ties are less likely to experience depression and anxiety disorders. This strength does not necessarily come in numbers, but in the quality of connections you hold close. Having a positive influence of people that are committed to seeing you succeed in your life provides a level of positivity that helps you see the light through the dark times and shifts your perspective when needed. The impact of having people you can relate to and that you trust to provide a non-judgmental ecosystem for growth is essential. In fact, research shows that individuals who receive support and encouragement from their peers report higher self-esteem and confidence. The power of validation and encouragement from your circle cannot be underestimated. Self-esteem and self-worth receive a substantial boost from positive social interactions.
Have you ever doubted yourself? Have you felt like you’re just not good enough to achieve that thing or to be that type of person? The funny thing about our beliefs is that they are make belief! Somewhere along the line, someone in your circles embedded that belief into you. They may not have done it with malicious intent – but they did it. We decide what is true. We decide what is possible in our lives. We decide what we believe and what we don’t believe, and those beliefs determine our direction. Having the right people around you can ignite that inner warrior! Think about the people you spend the most time with for a moment… Are these people who push you to reach for more? Are these people who challenge your beliefs about yourself and believe in your potential?! One of the reasons why isolation can be so detrimental to coping with adversity is because our brains begin to create stories of self-doubt and negative thought patterns. Having someone in your corner who can help you see things through another lens and be your thought of reason can be crucial to your recovery. There are people in our lives to help us excel and people in our lives that keep us down. This is the power in a like-minded community. Surrounding yourself with the people who are striving for the things you are striving for opens your eyes to a world of possibility.
Assess your circle of influence by looking at who you keep closest to you and how those people are influencing your self-belief and confidence to live the life of your dreams.
When you have taken a long-hard look at the type of people you are spending your time around, it becomes pretty clear why you set (or don’t set) the types of goals you set. For example, growing up in martial arts, I was constantly around people who were working to get better at something. Some people were working to be the best martial artist, some were simply working towards being more physically able or finding more personal peace – but, they all had goals! We were all working toward something greater. What’s more, we all faced resistance and challenges along the way. Having a shared understanding of what it means to work towards something similar and meaningful, we were there for each other when we would face challenges. A fellow martial artist would provide words of encouragement through their own experience struggling with something comparable and offer reassurances. Resilience is key to overcoming life’s many challenges. The emotional and practical support from your chosen community can be an extremely valuable tool to building that resilience. Take the Framingham Heart Study as an example. The study, which has been ongoing since 1948 has found that behaviors such as smoking, diet, exercise, and even happiness can be spread throughout social circles. People who were in a circle of influence where someone quit smoking for example, were more likely to also quit smoking. People who were surrounded by other people eating healthy, began to eat healthier themselves. Behavior is contagious!
Creating the right community of people around you, like the martial arts community I grew up in and have now built, can equip you with the resilience and accountability needed to succeed in the face of adversity.
Time and time again, my community in martial arts has been there to lift me up, push me forward and shape me into the person I have become today. It’s important for us to remember that we have the power to control the influence in our lives. We decide whether we stay in a group or with a person. We decide what we read on our phone, watch on TV, or listen to on a daily basis. Whether you're seeking mental strength, confidence, resilience, goal achievement, or holistic health, your community can be your greatest ally. As a coach, I encourage you to harness the power of your circle to embark on a journey of personal growth, well-being, and mastery. Together, we can elevate ourselves and those around us, embracing the full potential of our life’s passion. Assess the people that are currently in your inner circle and who is in your outer circle. You can change these things up by spending more of your time around the people that help you become the best version of yourself and a little less time with the ones who don’t. If you evaluate your circle and realize you are lacking the right influence, go find it! Try something new, join a new community and reach out to those people that inspire you in life!
In the ever-changing, up and down journey of life, remember that the power of your circle is not just a source of support; it's the canvas upon which your aspirations are painted, the vessel in which your resilience is forged, and the compass guiding your pursuit of wellness and personal growth. Embrace the positive influence of your community, for it has the potential to transform not only your own life but the lives of those around you.
Kyle Craik
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