Creating a Strong Support System: How to Surround Yourself with Positive Influences for Lasting Success

support system
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Individuals face many challenges in their quest to succeed in life. Although each individual’s experiences during this journey are unique, we all need a strong support system to help us achieve our goals. Hence, it is important to surround yourself with positive influences who will aid you along the way. These positive influences include your family, friends, colleagues, and mentors.

Choosing the right support system can positively influence how you see and carry yourself and ensure you remain driven and focused on your journey. Building a strong support system can be the difference between a happy or sad ending in your quest to be successful. This article discusses how you can create and nurture a support system that takes you closer to your goals.

Step 1: Determine What Your Goals Are

Building a strong support system is impossible without first identifying your goals and the kind of support you need. Do you want people who will encourage you or those who will guide you professionally? Do you want an influential person who will help you through some pitfalls or someone with a strong voice who can correct you when you do wrong? What are your goals? Do you want to attain career advancement or switch to build your own business? Whatever your goals are, identifying them will help you know the kind of people you need in your corner and make it easier to find them.

For example, if you want to start a new business, you need friends who have sound business knowledge and experience in your corner. Also, you may want to seek out mentors who are successful entrepreneurs and can guide you through the tricky business world. On the other hand, if your goal is to become more productive at work, it is great to surround yourself with exemplary work colleagues and friends who always get things done despite the challenges.

Step 2: Seek People Who Share Similar Goals

Deciding to become successful doesn’t end with just making the decision. You must be proactive and ensure every part of your life is tuned to your new reality. After determining your goals and the right people who can help you achieve them, you must find those who share similar goals and values. You can’t want to be a successful businessman and surround yourself with fraudsters. Also, you want to avoid hanging around those who don’t believe in you or your dreams.

Instead, you must create a strong support system of people who challenge you to do better, support your dreams, and push you through the journey. You can find such people in every area of your life. They can be your work colleagues, online connections, or members of the same professional groups. Connecting with ambitious, resilient, and optimistic people will do you a lot of good in your quest to become successful.

Step 3: Ensure Your Support System Is Diversified

Your support system must not consist of people with the same career path, experiences, or perspectives. Instead, it should be diversified and consist of people from every area of life. For example, not only your friends or family members should make up your support system. Your professional colleagues, people outside your career field, and those who influence you positively should make up your support system. Having a diversified support system is good as long as they share your ambitions, values, and goals and can help you positively.

Here is an example of how a diversified support system can be beneficial. Imagine you want to switch careers. Professionals in your support group can guide you on what to expect if you make such a change and how to navigate such rigors. Your friends and family members will provide you with the emotional support you need as you mull over your choices, while people in the new career field you want to switch to can share new opportunities to explore with you. A diversified support group can also mean having people who don’t always agree with you but challenge your thinking, ensuring you are not making decisions based on the spur of the moment.

Step 4: Be There for Your Support System

Having a support system is not one-way traffic. You shouldn’t only be the one to derive benefits but must always be ready to offer value when needed. The hallmark of a good support system is that everyone helps each other through various challenges and phases. Hence, there should be mutual respect and benefits. The moment it becomes one-way traffic, then it is parasitic. Therefore, you must invest in your support network, be it friends, mentors, or family members. Help, encourage, and guide them when necessary, and share experiences, tips, and resources whenever needed.

Step 5: Don’t Be Scared to Make Changes

As you continue your success journey, you may discover that your goals, needs, and circumstances have changed. These changes also mean you may need to evaluate and adjust your support system. If this is the case, you must be bold in making changes, especially if the relationship is no longer beneficial. Also, sometimes, your support system may become a negative influence. People change, and when that happens, choose your peace of mind and well-being over surrounding yourself with negativity.

Step 6: Prioritize Your Self

The key to a successful support system is that all members’ emotional and mental health is great. Thus, ensure you take care of yourself and are of the right frame of mind. Avoid stressful situations, set clear and healthy boundaries, and participate in activities that energize you for the journey ahead. By taking care of yourself, you ensure you are in the best frame of mind to help others and fully benefit from the help offered to you.

Conclusion

Creating a support system is not something you do in a hurry. You must take the time to determine your goals and seek people with shared goals and values and people of diverse backgrounds. Also, ensure your support system is mutually beneficial, and don’t be afraid to make changes when needed. Finally, prioritize your self-care to be optimally present. These steps are crucial to helping you build a system of like minds that will help you achieve your lofty goals.

#Clique, do you have a support system? How beneficial has it been to you and your goals? Do you have any experiences you can share? Tell us more in the comments.

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