It seems like life is always speeding up. Coming into adulthood, it feels like we stack on more and more tasks and are forced to squeeze them into a shorter and shorter amount of time. However, we cannot forget about the people around us, and we want you to think bigger than your family and close friends. Coworkers, friends of friends, neighbors, that one guy you sit next to on the bus sometimes, they all have an impact on you whether you like it or not.
Can you think about what your longest friendship looks like? What kind of things is your newest acquaintance into? It’s important to realize how we make and keep the friendships and relationships around us. Do your old friends look like your new friends? How do you think this impacts you and your actions?
Many of us seem to ask that question of old friends “If we met today, would we still become friends?” It is a valid question to ponder, to say the least, but we would argue that it will never be as important of a question as, “why are we friends right NOW?” The composition of your relationships should be in line with your goals and values, otherwise, these relationships are causing more stress than they are growth (with some exceptions of course).
The effect of social circles can be both negative and positive, so it’s a good idea to at least think about what kind of people surround you. We tend to try to adjust our behavior to match that of the people around us, even if we do it subconsciously. Simply put, being healthy is easier when you have other people around you that hold you accountable, that encourage your progression, and who also have the same goals. Whether you have a wide net of buddies or a close knit friend group, you all can achieve more when you work and support each other.
To learn more about the effect of social circles on our behavior, go to
http://www.alive.com/health/the-power-of-social-circles/ or
https://www.cdc.gov/socialdeterminants/
The Freestyle movement encourages everyone to explore health in all ways. Social health is but a piece of the puzzle that we must allocate some of our attention to. Progress is best celebrated with others, and so it is together we strive for a healthy social life to support our whole wellness! Live socially, Freestyle.