Associations And Their Influence On Us

If you were to evaluate the major influences in your life how have they shaped the kind of person you are now?

The influence of those around us is so powerful! Many times we don't even realize we're being strongly affected because influences generally develop over an extended period of time.

There are many ways a person can influence us, but one of the most powerful ways is Peer Pressure. Peer pressure is an especially powerful force because it is so subtle. If you're around people who spend all they make, chances are excellent that you might spend all you make. If you are around people who don't read, chances are excellent that you might not read. People can keep nudging us off course a little at a time until finally, we find ourselves

asking, "How did I get here?" Those subtle influences need to be studied carefully if we really want our lives to turn out the way we've planned.

So how do I analyze my current associations?

Ask yourself questions like these. "Who am I around?” Think about it for a bit then develop a mental picture of the people with whom you most often associate. Every person who you believe is able to or has the potential to influence you in any way, take note.

The second question is: "What are these associations doing to me?" This is one of the major questions to ask yourself. What do they have me doing? What do they have me listening to? What am I reading, do they have me reading this? What do they have me thinking? How do they have me talking differently? You've got to make a serious study of how others are influencing you, both negatively and positively.

Lastly, ask yourself this question: "Is that okay?" Maybe everyone you associate with has been a positive, energizing influence or maybe there are some bad apples in the bunch. The truth of the matter is simply this, everything is worth a second look, especially when it comes to the power of influence. I’m not saying that if someone around you is not motivated, positive or energized that you should just push them aside. I’m suggesting we take a closer and objective look and determine if this person, people or company are hindering you from moving in the direction you want to go.

Ignorance is never the best policy. Finding out is the best policy.

I heard this story once. It’s the story of the little bird: "He had his wing over his eye and he was crying. The owl said to the bird, "You are crying." "Yes," said the little bird, and he pulled his wing away from his eye. "Oh, I see," said the owl. "You're crying because the big bird pecked out your eye." And the little bird said, "No, I'm not crying because the big bird pecked out my eye. I'm crying because I let him."

It's easy to let influence shape our lives, to let associations determine our direction, to let pressures overwhelm us, and to let tides take us. The big question is, are we letting ourselves become what we wish to become?

Be Blessed All