Do you know who your peeps are? Your posse?
“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” – Jim Rohn
Who did you used to spend time with 3-5 years ago?
Who do you spend time with now?
Do these people support you in your personal evolution?
The path of the yogi is one of evolution. It invites us into a deeper relationship with the dynamic pulsation of nature and life, calling us to step forward into our most unique and powerful Selves without apology. When we spend time with people who encourage us to make these shifts and changes, it happens quickly and many times with the perfect balances of effort and ease.
Alignment works like that.
Being in alignment on our yoga mat cultivates a combination of strength, flexibility, awareness, and consciousness on a physical, mental, and emotional level. When we are first learning we start with small steps towards basic poses to learn how energy flows and how to anchor our awareness to stay present or how to fire up certain muscles that have been left dormant by moving our bodies in other ways. Once we have practiced for some time and all parts are in sync with one another, we experience greater ease. It’s a process, an unfolding.
The same is true with our relationships. It takes time to cultivate meaningful and deep relationships, and when we are conscious of how we are spending our time with people there is room to access another level of not only ease, but also growth. We are about growth around here. The path of the yogi on and off the mat isn’t to simply exist. We don’t buy into the fixed mindset of our society that once you turn 60 it’s all down hill.
If you are spending time with people who are acting old and degenerative, you will start to act that way, too. If you spend time with people who are active, you will be, too. If you spend time with people who overeat, you will, too. If you spend time with people who encourage and support one another to take their life to the next level, you will, too.
Are you spending time with people that hold the space and encourage you towards the next level of growth?
As you grow and shift on your yogic path, you begin to vibrate and pulse and live at a new frequency. It’s natural for the people you spend time with to shift as a result.
My sophomore year in high school I started playing on the tennis team. I had good hand-eye coordination from years of playing other sports, but it was a fairly new game for me. I remember my Dad telling me that if I wanted to be good at something – in this case, tennis – then I needed to play against people who were better than me. I started to sub in my mom’s tennis group, hired a coach in the off-season, and started playing with the older girls on the Varsity team. I got so much better and started on the Varsity team. I wanted to excel. I didn’t need to be the #1 player, but I wanted to be at the top of MY game. With a growth mindset, it worked.
This same teaching inspired me to seek out coaches, teachers, and mentors in areas I wanted to learn more.
I’ve been applying this advice to my work and yoga practice for 20 years. I spend a lot of time and money to engage and spend time with people who are going to encourage, support, and guide me to the next level of growth. This is something my friends and family can’t do for me. When I exchange this kind of value, I am held to the next level of transformation by someone whose job it is to make sure there’s movement and alignment towards my highest aim, my growing edge.
You can apply this same model to your work and/or to your yoga practice. Take some time to identify your growing edges, and see if there are people in your current circle who can support you in getting to the other side of them. If not, reach out and invite the next level of conversation.
Your tribe defines you.
Get clear and conscious about who you really want to spend your time with and watch your habits and your life shift.
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Rachel Peters is a yoga teacher, yoga health coach, lifestyle and habits expert, easeful living advocate, and lover of wild places. She leads others towards Embodying Ease through a yearlong wellness & lifestyle journey to dissolve perfectionism, embody daily habits that promote mental clarity, overall ease, and deeper connection to life on this wild ride of modern living. Learn MORE today!