“You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with”
-Jim Rohn
Who do you spend most of your time with? - Family? Friends? Coworkers?
Many aspects of our lives are determined by the people surrounding us - personality, income, daily life habits, ect.
You may already be aware of the influence those around you have, yet it is often difficult to change the people in your life.
I am not suggesting you make all new acquaintances - but I encourage you to keep an open mind as we explore an alternative idea that could have an equally meaningful impact.
Digital media today is more accessible than ever. With podcasts, youtube videos & social media platforms - you have the ability to explore the thoughts of just about anyone in the world.
So, instead of changing the people surrounding us physically… let’s focus on changing the people surrounding us digitally.
Digital Council
The people & ideas that we surround ourselves with digitally can impact us just as much, if not more than those surrounding us physically.
Think of the the top 5 content creators that you listen to (or watch) most often.
Whether you realize it or not, these people play a large roll in shaping your overall identity and thought patterns.
Therefore, the question we need to ask is: Are the people surrounding us digitally, truly benefitting us?
With this information - we are able to create a perfect council of people to surround ourselves with - without impacting relationships we have in the real world.
Thinking of those who surround us either physically or digitally as a “council” allows us to better visualize and conceptualize the influence they have over our lives and the decisions we make. This allow us to use the experiences of others to our advantage and avoid pitfalls that we may not see.
Let’s explore how we can put this idea into practice.
How to Create Your Digital Council
- Who inspires you?
Inspiration helps us recognize goals we want to achieve in the future and provide a boost on days when motivation is low. Yet inspiration alone is useless - action must be paired with this feeling, or nothing will change. Keep these people close and act upon the ideas that emerge when they provide you with inspiration.
- Who do you learn from?
Life long learning is essential. It is easy to get stuck in our own ways of thinking. Continue to learn about the world and other points of view. In the end, we will be better off if we consider what we have learned and make a personal decision to incorporate these ideas into our own beliefs if they align with who we want to be. Do not accept views blindly - make your own decision. Find a teacher that encourages you to think in this manner.
- Who entertains you?
Entertainment is what makes life fun. There are many types of media in this category, due to its subjective nature. Yet we should be wary of consuming excess amounts of purely entertaining content. Consider pairing entertainment with inspiration or learning. The people who entertain me, often also teach and inspire me.
Seek out individuals that provide all three of these benefits and add them to your council immediately.
Always continue to expand your digital council. Some people will come and go - it is okay to move on when we have drawn everything we can from a specific source. It is good to have a base of ideas to rely upon when we are making decisions. Although, we should continue to consider new points of view as well - everyone knows something that you don’t.
Start to take control of your life in this manner. Once you do so, you may consider looking into the people surrounding you physically.
The world is filled with people willing to help - use the internet to your advantage.