I recently came across an article that cited a common theme among the daily habits of the wealthy. The one habit emphasized most was that of association. This association includes the avoidance of one type of person: the pessimist.
“Self-made millionaires are very particular about who they associate with,” Corley writes in his book, Change Your Habits, Change Your Life: “You are only as successful as those you frequently associate with. The rich are always on the lookout for individuals who are goal-oriented, optimistic, enthusiastic, and who have an overall positive mental outlook.”
Eighty-six percent of the rich people in his study made a habit out of associating with other success-minded individuals. On the flip side, “they also make a point to limit their exposure to toxic, negative people”.
Not everyone is focused on becoming a self-made millionaire but that does not mute the relevance of this principle. Anybody that is serious about real and sustained change must recognize the vital role that others play in their success. Surrounding ourselves with other like-minded people who are striving to achieve similar objectives to our own will provide synergistic support that is vital to its achievement.
I personally have experienced this in my own life. I am a member of an amazing church; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (a.k.a Mormon church). We are known for an extremely high standard of living. Some of these standards include:
- Abstinence from drugs, alcohol, coffee, tea, sex before marriage, pornography, gambling, etc.
- Follow the biblical commandment of paying an honest tithe to the Lord (10% of our income)
- No paid ministry. Our congregations operate on the service hours of its members.
- Sabbath day observance. We rest on the 7th day from regular weekly activities.
- Attend three hours of church each Sunday.
- And More
Living such standards has been an integral part of my personal success as it relates to my myself, marriage, and family. I have been able to live these standards most of my life because of the power of the church community of which I am a part. Even with this great communal support there have been times when I have faltered.
I learned a powerful lesson during this phase of my life; in order for me to hold true to my values I needed to increase my depth and frequency of communication with like-minded people. These like-minded people were found both in and outside of my faith. In fact, I received the most powerful strength from those of differing belief systems.
My experience has taught me that we, as humans, need support beyond ourselves to live and achieve our values and goals. This support is found in surrounding ourselves with positive individuals who are on a similar path to our own. We share, listen, and genuinely care as we come together. There is power in numbers. There is power in positivity. There is power in sharing our common experience and support. If you feel you need this additional resource then look for an individual (friend, coach, therapist), groups, and organizations that will magnify your ability to achieve these goals. I promise that you will be deeply grateful you did so.
Comments are closed.