One thing we really need to avoid in 2017 is people who tell us what we cannot have, cannot do, or cannot be.
I’ve never been able to understand why people, after hearing someone share their dream or desire, launch into an explanation of why it can never happen. What ever happened to just wishing them well if you don’t have anything encouraging to say?
I remember reading a piece by comedienne and actress Mo’Nique in Essence magazine eight years ago. She was on the cover of that edition and was also the guest editor, and she shared how, many years prior, her publicist had told her she wasn’t “Essence material”. She didn’t even know what exactly that meant, but the lady was obviously implying that Mo’Nique wasn’t the kind of person who would be featured in a magazine she had loved since she was a young girl. I was glad to read that the woman is no longer her publicist, and I think we should all make more of those kinds of calls this year.
Who you listen to matters a lot. You hear things and they begin to shape the way you think, what goes on in your head. Make sure the people you’re listening to this year are people who support your dreams, offer constructive criticism, believe in you, and pray for you. Not people who will tell you what you can’t have, can’t do, or can’t be.
There are some people around you who should be fired. People who keep telling you that you can’t grow your business, can’t find love, can’t have the kind of marriage you desire, can’t get to the height you aspire to in your career, can’t achieve your weight goals… They have to go. Life is too short for that.
If the people you have around you are those who tell you you’re too young for the kind of success you’re aiming for, or you’re never going to find that kind of partner you desire, or you have to endure a horrid marriage because who else will want you, you need to change your associations.
Surround yourself with people who believe in you, and inspire you to believe in yourself; people who speak words of life to you, not death. It’s totally okay to separate yourself from someone who isn’t going your way, or who cannot support you as you strive to become a better you.
Of course, it goes without saying that you should also be the right kind of person, one who adds value to others. Radiate positivity, and open your ears to those who build you up, not tear you down. Let positive energy be a priority for you in 2017.
You might also like:
- The Importance of a Support System: Why Surrounding Yourself with the Right People Matters
- The Benefits of Journaling: Your Guide to Better Mental Health and Personal Growth
- How You Can Overcome the Fear of Failure as an Entrepreneur
- Failing Forward: How to Turn Your Failures to Your Advantage
