In our busy and fast-paced lives, it can become difficult to connect with people on a regular basis. However, humans are social creatures. We need that type of contact to thrive. You probably have an inner circle of friends, family, and co-workers you see on a regular basis. Do you consider them to be like-minded? That is, are they people whose values, priorities, and interests are similar to your own?
Sometimes the people closest to us may not share our core tenets. That can be fine, as there's a great deal to say about surrounding yourself with diverse perspectives. But, there are definite advantages to maintaining close relationships with like-minded people, though, and it's important to have such a community in your life. Take a look at why you should make it a habit to meet with like-minded people more often.
Power of Like-Minded People
The people you spend the most time with can truly influence your thinking, behavior, and mood. This can happen without you even realizing it. That's why it's important to surround yourself with those whose beliefs and values are similar to your own. Take some time to determine whether there are some toxic, negative, or simply opposite-thinking folks you may wish to remove from your inner circle. You'll likely find yourself feeling more energized and uplifted by those people who really understand you.
Benefits of Like-Minded People
Spending time with like-minded people can improve your life in many ways. It's good to feel you aren't alone. Sometimes the world can be isolating. Finding a social support network helps you to feel a part of something and that people have your back. You can learn a lot from those who have similar interests and characteristics to yourself. Bouncing ideas off each other and sharing sources of information can be invaluable in both your personal and your work life. Connections often run deeper when you interact with those who already have a similar foundation to your own. You don't need to fear judgment and can be yourself around this inner circle.
How to Find Like-Minded Community
As adults, it can be incredibly intimidating to put yourself out there and try to find new friends. First, you should take time to decide what type of people you're hoping to reach. This baseline knowledge will clue you in on where to look. Perhaps your primary interest is in meeting people who have similar political leanings. This insight might push you to find action groups or social causes to join. If you want to find folks who enjoy the same types of physical activities or hobbies as you do, it's best to search for clubs or teams. Then you'll need to take the steps to find your tribe. You'll have to be brave. Ask around in your online and real-life social networks. Make a commitment to attend meetings. Once you start putting yourself out there, you'll likely start to see things fall into place.
The Bottom Line
Meeting regularly with like-minded people can truly invigorate you and change the trajectory of your life in many ways. Get out of your comfort zone and see what happens when you take your social needs into your own hands. It isn’t lost on me how difficult this could be for some – because believe it or not, I am an extreme introvert and struggle with this very thing. There’s so many reasons for it and I’m committed to doing the leadership work I need here so that the “law of the lid” as John Maxwell discusses is staying wide open for the future growth of me and the company we are scaling up here at The Bottom Line.
