The Power of Social Support

Are the people you spend the most time with helping you to stay strong, mentally focused and positive? Or are they dragging you into negativity, hopelessness and fear? 

Numerous studies indicate social support is essential for maintaining physical and psychological health. The harmful consequences of poor social support and the protective effects of good social support in mental illness have been well documented. 

Positive social support:

- Enhances resilience to stress. 

- Helps protect against anxiety and depression.

- And increases life expectancy and anti-aging!  

In the here and now with so much negativity and divisiveness, it is extremely important to be aware of who you are surrounding yourself with especially in our current times when everyone is more prone to stress, anxiety, depression and mood swings. Energy vampires are people who manage to suck the life and motivation out of you. They never have a positive thing to say and leave you feeling completely drained and sapped of energy. These types of people often tell you what cannot be done and what isn’t possible. They have a “poor me” attitude, are always the victim of circumstance and want to drag you right down with them. They are usually projecting their own insecurities onto you. These negative comments will keep you from reaching your potential and accomplishing your goals if you let them. Their conversations usually center around negative talk, gossip, what is not possible or how bad things are. The person is speaking from their own insecurities and feelings of inadequency. Don’t let their negative words get to you. They can be poisonous to your success.

This concept of how powerful the influence of people surrounding you can be was first introduced to me by business and life philosopher, Jim Rohn who talks about how our relationships have a huge influence on us. 

"There are two parts to influence: First, influence is powerful; and second, influence is subtle. You wouldn’t let someone push you off course, but you might let someone nudge you off course and not even realize it." –Jim Rohn

Surround yourself with people who will support you in your quest to become the best version of yourself. Ask yourself these questions, “Who is in my immediate circle? Are they supportive or are they energy vampires sucking the motivation out of me?” 

Your immediate circle should include people who inspire, encourage, and bring out the best in you. Don’t think that you can spend time with negative people and not be influenced by their “poor me” attitudes.

Our Results Fitness community is full of supportive people who challenge eachother to raise the bar and become more than they ever thought possible. They focus on eachothers strengths and give unconditional support in whatever goals you want to accomplish, no matter how far fetched they might be. Results athletes are always positive, uplifting and believe in each other. 

As the shut down happened we knew we had to keep our community connected to eachother because we all needed eachother. Our clients wanted to be around eachother because the enthusiasm for living life to the fullest nomatter the circumstances is contagious. Surround yourself with as many of these types of people as you can. The saying is very true- You are who you spend time with. 

"To attract attractive people, you must be attractive. To attract powerful people, you must be powerful. To attract committed people, you must be committed. Instead of going to work on them, you go to work on yourself. If you become, you can attract."

– Jim Rohn