“You’re the average of the five people you spend most of your time with.”

Interesting thought. Take a few minutes. Who is in your "Circle of Five?"

Now, a tough question.... Are these the people who are going to assist you in becoming the best version of you?

It’s common for us to underestimate the importance of the company we keep. We need people, whether they're teachers, coaches, family or trusted friends, who challenge us and push us to be better. The right circle of influence raises the bar, helping us to set new, higher expectations of ourselves.

Life is hard enough – we don’t always win, and there will always be obstacles and challenges along our path to success. During those times, nothing feels better than having someone with whom you can share your fears and doubts. To have friends and mentors that not only listen, but also cheer you on to be the best you can be. “Great effort! You can do it!” They give you energy and help you propel forward.

Find and focus on relationships with those who can share their wins and positive vibes and help you realize that you can do the same. Life is too short for mediocrity.

While not every day will be filled with rainbows and unicorns (and it's ok to have those "down" days) it's so important to have those individuals in our circle who check-in, provide guidance, or maybe just share a laugh to draw us back to being ourselves. Then, in turn, we can be that person to someone else when needed; after all we're part of someone else's "Circle of Five."