Most of us are aware of the sayings:
- Beware the company you keep because you become the company you keep
- You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with
By osmosis, we become the company we keep, which has its pros and cons. Namely, the company you keep can keep you exactly where you are and that’s great if you want no change in your life, but not so great if you do.
As human beings, we love to be loved, liked, approved of, validated. We like to belong, feel safe and secure. Even if our circumstances are killing our creativity, self-esteem and freedom, we’ll hang onto what we know. Much like the frog in the pot of tepid water, we are unaware that the water is slowly being brought to a boil….and we end up cooked in our businesses, health, relationships, finances, creativity and self-worth.
And sometimes, it must be said, we just don’t believe in ourselves or our dreams enough so we just do nothing.
The thing is, when we do desire change, that desire cannot co-exist with keeping things the same. And it can also be incompatible with the people in our lives who usually want us to remain the same.
It really comes down to who you are, who you want to be, what you want to experience as the artist of your own life…and whether the change you seek matters to you enough.
If it matters enough, you will have to re-evaluate and upgrade yourself, your life and its circumstances, including the people, because you will need to make a choice to respect, protect and cultivate the new version of yourself and your life that is seeking to come forth.
Ultimately, there’s a price you pay with stasis (a stable state that can lead to being frozen in time if you’re not paying attention), and a price to pay with growth.
In both cases, things must be surrendered:
- The price you pay with stasis is the surrender of your creativity, freedom, and potential.
- The price you pay with growth is the surrender of your comfort zone and the status quo.
Don't be the frog in the pot. In times like these, it's unlikely to be a prince (or princess) in disguise. You could be being boiled alive!