How to thrive by carefully picking your environment

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You have this crazy idea. It's a bit risky. It's a bit out of the ordinary, but you know that if you succeeded you could be living the life you really wanted. So you start telling your friends and family about it. And then it starts.

"That's crazy, it's not as easy as you think." "But what if you failed?" "Stop dreaming, that doesn't happen to people like us." Just keep listening to their arguments and the sooner or later you'll say to yourself: "Hey, I guess that makes sense, what was I thinking?"

Sounds familiar?

Now what would happen if instead, this is what they would've said: "Wow, that's a brilliant idea, I can't believe I never thought of that", "This could really work, make sure you have a plan B if things go wrong, then go for it!" or "Great idea, you should call my friend Steve and talk about it, I'm sure he can help you work out your plan".

Would that make a difference?

It's often your environment that makes or breaks you. Especially when your discipline and self-confidence isn't as hard as steel. Who are you 5 best friends? You're the average of those 5 people. Look around in your social circles, your friends, your classmates, your colleagues, or even your family. Who of them do you really envy, do you look up to, and feel like they're really successful? Who of them only pulls you down and who of them actually encourages you to be successful?

It's not always that easy to consciously choose your environment. You've grown on them. The temptation is great when they call to sit in the bar chitchatting about the same useless stuff for the fourth time this week. But let's be brutally honest: you know deep down inside the only reason why you 'hang' with them is because you think you're better than them and that makes you feel good about yourself.

But once you constantly and only surround yourself with positive and successful people, you'll automatically follow in their footsteps. You'll have no choice, it works as peer pressure. Make them your mentors. The great part? Everyone will encourage and help you to succeed!