I have a challenge for you today! I want to challenge you to evaluate your circle. By circle, I mean your circle of influence. The people around you who influence you and the people that you influence. Take inventory of these people. What are their goals? How hard to they work? What do their attitudes look like? How do they handle adversity? What do they do when they don’t get their way or when their plans are ruined? These people may be family, friends, mentors, role models, coworkers, etc. Do an honest evaluation, because there is a very good chance that you possess similar traits.

Are you happy with your evaluation? Do you want to have the same tendencies as the people in your circle? Or do you hold yourself to a higher standard? Do you want to achieve the same level of success as the people in your circle? Or do you want more for your future? You are the only person who can change your future. What do you want out of your life?

Oh, you want to walk in all the things that God has planned for your life? Great!!! Having a desire to live in God’s best is the first step in changing your situation. Now here’s where things get a bit tricky. Any time you step into something better, it is going to be uncomfortable. It’s like going up a staircase to a higher floor. The more levels you climb, the more your legs will burn. But, there is something better on each level. Keep climbing because you want the penthouse view on the very top. You will never get a penthouse view with a basement effort. It will take awhile to get there. And it will certainly be uncomfortable, but it is better to put in the work and get to the top than to stop on the second floor and wonder what you could have experienced if you had kept going.

If you are going to live in God’s best, you need to surround yourself with the right people. IF YOU ARE THE MOST FAITHFUL PERSON YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO MEET NEW PEOPLE. If there is nobody in your circle who can push you to do better and hold you accountable, then you need to step out of your comfort zone and bring new people into your circle. You may have to leave some people behind. Now, I’m not telling you to quit your job because you don’t like your coworkers or ditch your parents because you don’t always agree with them. Some people are permanent, like your family or your coworkers for a season. But I am telling you to evaluate those people who are not permanent, like your friends. Are they building you up? Or are they draining you? Are they a negative influence? Or are they pushing you to grow your relationship with God? Are they lazy? Or are they chasing after their goals and encouraging you to do the same?

If your friends aren’t adding something to your life, then they need to go. You don’t have room for the people who are going to drag you down. You don’t have room for people who tell you that your dreams are just dreams that aren’t worth chasing. Those people are going to keep you in this season of life and prevent you from elevating because they don’t want anyone around them to achieve more than them. Small minded people are uncomfortable with success. They want to keep you from going where they have told themselves that they can’t go. Don’t let their limits leak over onto you. You have too much to do to waste time thinking you can’t get it done. If you are surrounded with people who aren’t doing anything, it’s time to bring new people into your circle.

There are certain kinds of people that you should put in your circle. These people are faithful. They are honest with you. They challenge you. They push you to become better. They are setting goals and achieving them. They have achieved more than you! It is important to surround yourself with people who have achieved more than you. You want to be around people who look like what you want to be. You will become like the people around you. So pick those people wisely. Don’t pick people who are going to hold you back or limit you. Pick the people who are doing great things. Elevate your circle today and be the best you that you can be!

 

Xoxo,

Taylor