I believe it was Jim Rohn who first applied the law of averages to people. He said you will become the sum average of the 5 people you spend the most amount of time with. Choose wisely.
It’s true… You can’t spend time with someone who has lower standards than you, and not be forced to lower your standards as well. If you didn’t lower yours, there would be constant conflict between you. That isn’t a very high standard to live by either, is it?
Over time, you begin to accept behaviours, and life, at a level less than you desire.
You begin to make excuses for your own success, based on their shortcomings.
“I can’t do this, because she is not…”
“I can’t do that, because he is…”
“This won’t work because she…”
“I can’t show up for my life because he won’t.”
You have to really want the life you want… And you have to want it a lot.
The life you want is very hard to sort out while you are always spending your energy trying to keep the peace and lessen the conflict with your people.
You have to want the life you want, more than you want to keep those people content.
You have to want it more than you want to carry their weight.
You might have to choose a whole new 5 people to spend your time with. Sometimes you only have to let go of one or two.
Sometimes we have really let these people intertwine in our lives so much, it’s hard to unwind it.
It’s not easy. It’s hard to see your way through. It’s hard to let go of the doubt you have created inside yourself, about yourself, while you have let your standards slip.
Keep your eye on the life you want.
You will get there. And it will all be so worth it.