you are who you surround yourself with

We all know the influx of good vibes that being around the right people can bring.

..but what about the influx of bad vibes that comes from being around the wrong ones?

As creatives, you’re exposed to so many different people, that are all doing their damnedest at trudging their way through life at varying stages of their creative journey and personal development. Some being at places where they’re healing, and breed positivity, and others, less so, stuck in negativity.

Regardless of the stage you’re at (while still taking it into consideration), it’s important to take note of who it is that you’re spending your time with and the effects your social circle has on your creative and personal development.

✨ 🤝 ✨

Let’s take a quick temperature-check on your social circle, so that we can identify if the people you’re surrounding yourself with are lifting you up, or keeping you stuck. Try asking yourself the following questions:

Do you feel as though the people you surround yourself with inspire you, and empower you with the fuel you need to push yourself towards progress? Do you feel the relationships you have right now are grounded by mutual respect, shared values, and a sense of understanding, regardless of the skill or status they hold?

Or..

Do you find the company you’re keeping to be out of convenience rather than intention, have a tendency to lean towards negativity, jealousy, or maybe even foster a sense of unhealthy competition that’s keeping you feeling stagnant, or worse, bringing you down, and overall is taking more than giving?

Surrounding yourself with the right people is key to not only your creative growth, but your personal growth, too.

The good news is..

✨ you are in control of who you spend your time with. ✨

Taking the time and energy to calibrate your community is a make-or-break when it comes to your creative process.

Spending time with people who are toxic influences in your life can not only undermine your ability to create, but more importantly, it can undermine your self-confidence. Furthermore, being around the wrong people, that is, those who perpetuate negativity, jealousy, and do not share your values, can bring out the worst sides of you that not only inhibit your creativity, but your own healing, too.

By focusing on the people in your life that lift you up, that is, those that align to your values, energy and goals, you are gifting yourself to ability to not only be your ✨authentic self✨, but it gives you the safety and room to become your most healed self.

Deep, meaningful relationships fostered with the right people are what propel us forward, while at the same time, can hold space for us when we’re feeling down and out. They’re able to challenge our thinking and perspectives, while simultaneously respecting our boundaries and not draining our energy.

Now, if you’ve looked, and there doesn’t seem to be any people like this in your life right now..

The beauty of today is that you can go out and find them!

It might feel impossible to do so, but fortunately, we live in a world where we are more connected than we’ve ever been before- it’s very possible, and you’re very worth the effort!

Whether in-person or online, seeking out community with like-minded people can help you deepen your creativity by sparking new ideas, encouraging collaboration, and ensuring you a safe place for inspiration for when blocks come up (as they do). Furthermore, these positive influences can help reduce everyday stresses and anxieties, and provide you with an anchor of sorts that can support your emotional well-being too, regardless of the challenges you meet in life.

This week, we have this humble offering that you’re free to take-or-leave:

Take some time to critically assess who you are surrounding yourself with.

If they align to your values, energy and goals- then that’s great! Keep your efforts, personal and creative inclusively, geared towards flourishing what you have with those relationships.

Alternatively, if they do not align to who you are (or who you are working to become), it might be time to realign yourself to the right people and a more supportive environment that can support your growth, both within the scope of your creativity, as well as your personal growth.