BalanceNewsletter010

Today's Article: Creating an Environment to Achieve Your Goals

Just how important is it to create a social network that is in alignment with your personal goals? Well one such study would indicate that it is indeed very important! If you've read the link above or seen the results on the news, we've now got statistically significant evidence that your friends have a major impact on at least one aspect of your life - specifically your weight. Here is a summary of the startling report:

    *People with obese siblings are 40% more likely to become obese
    *People with obese spouses are 37% more likely to become obese
    *If someone became obese, their friends are 57% more likely to become obese
    *Friends participating in the study together had a 171% greater likelihood of
    becoming obese if their friend did!

While this study is focused on obesity, I'd feel pretty confident in drawing the inference that this most likely carries over to other such topics as emotional health, quality of relationships, even financial well-being! Have you ever noticed that great ideas arise when you are in the presence of an entrepreneur?

Now if any of you are reading this thinking 'I am doomed!', quite the contrary is true - this is a huge opportunity! For one, it indicates that we are most influenced by the one thing we can control - who are our friends! Even better, we can have a positive impact on our friends lives as well by making lifestyle choices and changes for ourselves. The things we can't control (ie: our siblings/perhaps related to heredity) have less of an impact than our friends - even if the friends are 500 miles apart. This suggests that common environments are not the explanation for the results.

So I am convinced that my friends influence my life and I'd like to make some changes, what can I do? Here are some simple things you can do to create an environment that maximizes your potential to achieve your goals:

1. Recognize that you have an influence on others. Be a role model and let them follow - they will thank you for taking the lead and your contagious efforts will pay back to you in kind down the road.
2. Enroll support within your network of friends! When you have a conversation with friends, let them know your goals (whether it be weight loss or otherwise), and ask them to support you. Be specific with what it is you want to achieve and let them know the power of doing it together!
3. Extend your network. Look for new friends and people to socialize with in a different network. This could mean joining a networking group with other entrepreneurs, participating in an online support group or talking to the vegetarian neighbor that has lots of health food ideas! Build a network of friends and colleagues that already have the mindset and habits that you'd like to achieve.

Each of these is simple in principle and even simple to apply. The biggest challenge is that it takes a leap of faith to believe that these will work and it takes a lot of courage to disrupt what we are comfortable with. Making the decision to change is significant and if you are ready to take action, the shift is instantaneous. For immediate results ask yourself the following:

Is my environment conducive to achieving the goals I'd like to make a priority in my life?
How can I build an enviornment to support me in making long term sustained results?

If you are interested in exploring these questions further or to work with a coach to turn these thoughts into a reality, contact me any time to discuss if coaching could be supportive in designing an environment geared for creating results.

Article Reference Material found at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19957512/#storyContinued