Who is Influencing You?
Have you ever heard the phrase “you’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with”? I heard this quote a few years ago, and I really began considering who I was allowing to influence me and who was contributing to my “average”.
The quote makes sense: whoever you spend the most time with, will inevitably begin to influence your habits and behaviors. Have you ever spent so much time with someone that you adopt their sayings and catch phrases? This is a simple example of the quote in effect.
On a deeper level, the people you surround yourself with will determine whether you continue to grow into a better version of yourself daily, or whether you begin to fall into a trap of mediocrity; that might sound harsh, but it’s true.
Sometimes it is hard to distance yourself from people who don’t realize that they are bringing your “average” down.
In today’s modern age, this quote doesn’t just focus on your direct friendships and family members, it also applies to online personalities. The amount of time you spend scrolling through Instagram and Tik Tok has a profound effect on you – whether you realize it or not.
The creators that you choose to watch the most, or subscribe to, are contributing to your “average” even though you might not know them personally.
I recently went through a “following cleanse”, where I looked through who I was following, and unfollowed anyone (influencer or not) who was not contributing to my average in a positive way. This could be someone who, when you watch their content, you feel bad about your life, or someone who’s morals make you question your own constantly.
Letting go of your connection to these online personas who are lowering your average, gives you the ability to follow people who will add to your average and provide positive and relevant information to help you thrive.
In the health and wellness space, it can be so difficult to find influencers and thought-leaders who are rooted in science and balance – so here are some people who I follow, and who I think you would benefit from following as well:
Shelby Sacco - habits, routines, how to show up for yourself
Lucy (Lemons & Lucy) - routines, simple moments, honestly a must-follow she is so sweet!
Andrew Huberman - science-backed health and wellness information/tips
Olivia Amitrano - living holistically, mental and physical well-being
Olivia Noceda - amazing recipes, aesthetic videos, alc-free mocktails
Grace Wagner - finding balance in life, sweet-treat recipes, healing from the inside out
I hope you will check out some of these creators and choose to be more intentional about the content that you digest, or at least start to be more aware of the impact that online personas have on you.
Just a parting reminder: You deserve to live in a mind that loves you back, and you are worthy of the relationships/friendships/influences in your life that will help you become the person you desire to be.