Selective Surroundings

In the School of Self-Image, we talk about surroundings quite a lot, so it may not surprise you to hear that what and who you surround yourself with every day can significantly impact your mindset, self-image, and overall well-being. 

The environment you create through the elements you surround yourself with will affect how you think and feel daily. 

Of course, as we've talked about so many times, your thoughts create your feelings, and when your mindset is affected, your behavior, motivation, and drive will also be affected. 

Surroundings can mean so many different things. Your home, office, and car, the music you listen to, the television shows you watch, the books you read, your social media engagement, and the people you spend your time with. 

When you are selective about your surroundings, you can better create the life you want. 

In that way, life begins to happen for you rather than to you.

The Company You Keep

The company you keep has a tremendous influence on you because your partner, friends, acquaintances, and family significantly impact how you feel, think, and behave.

Here are a few ways in which you are affected by the folks you spend time with. 

A strong, in-person social network may be the secret to longevity

Plenty of research shows the health benefits of friendship, which can boost immunity and keep depression at bay. Having a connected community of friends can help you live a longer, healthier, happier life. 

According to one study from Australia's Flinder's University, those with close relationships and confidants are likely to live longer. The 2005 study followed 1500 people for a decade, and it was discovered that folks who have an extensive network of friends lived 22% longer than those who didn't have many friends.

​Strong-minded friends can positively impact your self-control.

If you struggle with maintaining healthy habits and find that you grapple with temptation, you might consider surrounding yourself with people who possess a decent amount of self-discipline. 

Studies show that when people struggle with self-control, seeking out those with that positive trait can help bolster your willpower. 

Self-discipline is essential to reaching those big, long-term goals, and hanging out with other women who possess admirable willpower can be a crucial ingredient in the secret sauce of success. 

Whether it's alcohol consumption, that never-ending temptation to blow off the gym, or spending habits that are out of control, surrounding yourself with people (friends, partners, acquaintances, or groups) who have strong-willed, good practices in place can help you achieve the same. 

Likewise, if your partner is a sugar junky, a daily drinker, or prefers to veg out in front of Netflix every evening rather than read a good book or go for a long walk, it will be more of a struggle for you to make healthier choices.

Having Fewer Friends May Negatively Impact Your Finances

Wait. What? 

That's right. According to a Journal of Consumer Research study, lonely people tend to take more considerable financial risks.  

If you're recently separated or divorced, have had a falling out with a family member, or are dealing with some other significant setback, disappointment, loss, or difficulty in life, your emotions could affect your spending decisions and habits. 

Surrounding yourself with supportive friends and family members can help alleviate some of the emotional struggles and help you to avoid "retail therapy."

Dialing Back Your Social Media Can Be Beneficial

Being Social is Great, but too many social media "friends" and excessive social media engagement can increase anxiety and stress. 

Studies have shown that having more social media connections can lead to increased anxiety about offending people, resulting from a need to please – presenting a version of oneself that feels acceptable to everyone. 

Researchers found that this effect came from the subject's desire to present a version of themselves to the world that would be acceptable to all their social media contacts. 

I think it's safe to say that this would be an impossible feat. 

Considering the massive divide in the US and globally regarding politics, race, religion, and even medical decisions, it may be best to refrain from oversharing – and sharing with too many – on your social networks. 

Sadly, these differences of opinion have affected relationships between friends and family members, neighbors, peers, acquaintances, coworkers, and clients, creating a situation where there is anger, hurt feelings, and distancing. 

Now more than ever, it's time to take a step back, try to see our fellow human beings with grace and as a whole – not just the sum of their political affiliation, for example – and to preserve our own mental and emotional well being as well as that of others. 

Your Physical Surroundings  

Ancient arts such as Feng Shui have been used throughout the centuries, emphasizing harmony and good energy between people and their environment.

Modern science has taught us even more about how our surroundings affect our mood and well-being.

Women start thriving and being more positive after making simple changes in their surroundings.

There are numerous ways that your environment can affect you. 

Color, interior design, cleanliness, tidiness, and warm versus cool elements in a room can all have a substantial effect on your feelings and energy levels.

Like how the winter blues or seasonal affective disorder sometimes moves in with colder, darker days, low vibe emotions can occur indoors when the environment isn't well suited to you. 

A second factor affecting your mood is the number of things ( nicknacks, art, furniture and more) that each room houses. 

If your space feels cluttered, it can make the room feel tight and claustrophobic. Conversely, a room that lacks decor can feel empty and cold. 

The key is to find a happy medium- that sweet spot between the two that gives you a sense of balance and harmony. You'll give yourself a feeling of genuine ease and peace in your home when you do that. 

We often overlook these factors because we don't realize that the inanimate objects and colors in our physical surroundings have anything to do with how we think and feel. 

Of course, it's not likely that an environment unsuited to our tastes and needs is the sole source of negative emotions and psychological unrest; color, decor, and order most definitely have a substantial impact. 

Design is subjective, of course, so it is essential to find those factors to create the best environment for your needs. 

Selective Surroundings Can Make A significant Impact On Your Vibrational Level

If you feel like you’re living a tired, stagnant, bored, overwhelmed, and uninspired life, these feelings may be due in part to your surroundings.

Everything that surrounds you is a choice, and small daily decisions are affirming who you believe yourself to be.

Do you like what you’re choosing? Are your surroundings serving you? if not, it may be time to make some changes.