So you’ve decided it’s finally time to change your life?
That’s AMAZING!
You’re about to go on one of the most fulfilling journeys of your life, so now it’s time to make sure you have the right company to take along with you.
Because while you have the ultimate control over your life and decisions, the people around you can have a massive impact on your ultimate success!
Take the time to build a good community of supportive people who’ve done or are doing what you’d like to do, to help you along the way.
Why build a healthy habit support network?
Research has shown that people who surround themselves with support are more likely to achieve their goals. This is because we tend to become the sum of the five people we spend the most time with.
To figure out how you’re being influenced, make a list of your five closest connections. Think about the type of behaviours (good and bad) they usually show. Consider whether this might be rubbing off on you.
Next, think about how your current connections feel, speak and behave in the area of your life you’d like to change. For example, if you want to lose weight and your five connections all have very unhealthy eating habits, you’re likely to face tougher pressure and temptation than someone with a trainer and a health coach in their circle.
This is why it’s important to fill your circle with more people with the same goals as you – or ones who are best positioned to teach you coping strategies for when things get tough.
How to build a healthy habit support network
There are heaps of ways you can surround yourself with great influences. Here’s where to start.
Family and friends
Your family and friends can be an amazing source of support. After all, they likely want what’s best for you (if not, find some new friends!).
Start by explaining what you’re planning on achieving, why it is important and the strategies you’re going to use. Follow up with anything they can do to help you. For example, you might ask them to choose a healthier venue for your weekly coffee.
Finally, remember that while this can be the best place to start, some friends and family members won’t be in a position to help. Whether they have limiting beliefs and behaviours holding them back or are simply overwhelmed by life at the moment, if they seem unsupportive (intentionally or unintentionally), don’t take it to heart.
You don’t need to cut them out of your life, but you CAN start building connections that support your new goals.
Join a group or class
One of the best ways to connect with like-minded people is to join a relevant group or class. The people there are literally seeking out the same goals and community as you.
It might feel scary at first, but it’s so worthwhile!
Most people feel a bit nervous to start with. The important thing is to take that first step through the door and keep coming back long enough to become a familiar face.
Joining a fitness class can be especially intimidating. You might worry about what the trainer and group will think of your uncoordinated butt in tights. It’s natural to worry, but in reality, most people are worried about the same thing, and not thinking about how you look at all!
Join an online community
If you can’t make it to an in-person class or would like some virtual connections to back you up, join an online community.
Nowadays you can find communities for just about everything online. The best ones are run by trained subject-area professionals that can provide value and advice, along with an active community of like-minded individuals.
Learn how to develop healthy habits and smash goals while surrounding yourself with a supportive community in the Healthy Habit Hierarchy Academy here.
Find a thought-leader you connect with
Your circle of five doesn’t only need to be made up of people you interact with regularly!
If you’ve committed to accomplishing something massive, it can help to find someone who’s been there and is qualified to provide inspirational, legitimate advice.
Find a thought-leader you feel you connect with and then ‘invite’ them into your life by reading their books and blogs, signing up for their courses and listening to their podcasts.
You can learn new things and get some serious inspiration on-tap in this way.
This is a great way to ensure that you have a good influence in your life!
When you’re working on achieving big goals, one of the best things you can do is to build or find a supportive community of people around you. There are many ways to do this, so get started now!
