“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”
—Jim Rhon
In our highly individualized society, where merit is defined in how we can differentiate ourselves from others, we all share a likeness in our obvious contrasts. At some point in our lives we all have experiences that humanize us a bit more, and take us away from the mindset of always trying to stand out. Rather it makes us realize that the world is suddenly a lot smaller, we are not so different, and that even the mundane is exceptional.
Through these life-changing experiences, many of us discover our passions and the things that drive us to be better. Whatever it is that we strive for in life, we can never truly achieve it alone. We may build our own foundations, but there are people whom directly, or sometimes indirectly, become the pillars of our framework.
Renowned motivational speaker Lisa Nichols
We don’t always choose the sort of people that come in to our lives. However, we have all the power to say who stays. It is important for us to look at who is around us, and seriously evaluate if they are the sort of people that bring us peace and happiness. Those are the people you look to for guidance. They are the people that can help you ultimately reach your goals.
There is no shame in being proud, but we should not let our pride cloud our judgment. Sometimes our desire to be the sole proprietors of our success, makes it so that we build a wall between potential mentors and ourselves. Remain open-minded; be at peace with the fact that things don’t always go the way we wish when we first start our journeys towards success. Eventually your devotion to your cause will draw the right people towards you. Believe these things whole-heartedly and you will be unstoppable.
4th President of Florida International University, Modesto Maidique
“You need other people, including mentors, to achieve your goals and realize your full potential. We live in an interdependent world, one in which cooperation takes us much further ahead than competition. We need to learn to relate and connect with others to achieve Triumph” (Martinez-Peñalver, 2016).
Imagine a society that holds true to these values. Imagine a world where all children are taught they can accomplish anything.
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Martinez-Peñalver, B. (2016). Triumph. Bloomington, IN: Balboa Press.