You Are The Average Of The Five People You Spend The Most Time With

There is a saying that you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. It is a simple idea, but when you think about it, it carries a lot of truth. The people in your inner circle influence how you think, how you behave and ultimately, what you believe is possible for yourself.

Whether your goals involve improving your health, building your career or making meaningful changes in your life, the company you keep matters. At Foundry, we see it every day. When you surround yourself with people who support, encourage and challenge you, progress comes naturally.

Your Inner Circle

The people closest to you shape your habits, your mindset and your standards. Spend time with those who take care of their health, and you start to do the same. Surround yourself with those who are disciplined and positive, and those qualities begin to rub off on you.

Energy is contagious. If you are around people who are enthusiastic, motivated and consistent, you start to absorb those same traits. In contrast, if your circle is filled with negativity or complacency, that can hold you back. This influence might not be evident at first, but over time, it shapes how you think, eat, move and live.

The same is true in training. When you work out alongside people who give their best effort, you naturally push a little harder. When others celebrate your progress and encourage you to keep going, the gym becomes a place of shared growth rather than a solo struggle.

Your Environment

Your environment has a powerful effect on your success. This applies to every area of life, but it is evident in fitness. A positive environment helps you stay consistent, focused and resilient when challenges arise.

Think about how it feels to walk into a Foundry session. The energy is focused, the coaches are invested, and everyone is working towards improvement. You are surrounded by people who want to get better, and that atmosphere makes it easier to stay on track. It is not about comparison or competition; it is about collective accountability.

Creating the right environment in your everyday life follows the same principle. Spend time with people who encourage growth, and it becomes your usual way of living. Spend time in places that align with your goals, and your actions begin to reflect those values.

Energy Givers And Energy Drainers

Not everyone in your life will lift you, and that is okay. The key is recognising which relationships energise you and which ones leave you feeling drained.

Energy givers are the people who inspire you to do better. They challenge you to grow, celebrate your progress and remind you of your purpose when things get tough. They do not let you give up easily because they see your potential.

Energy drainers, on the other hand, are often the ones who question your goals or make you doubt yourself. They might not mean harm, but their words or habits can make it harder to stay focused. Spending too much time around this kind of energy can lead to frustration and self-doubt.

You do not need to cut people out of your life entirely, but you can choose how much time and emotional energy you give to certain relationships. Gradually increasing your time with supportive people makes a noticeable difference in your motivation and happiness.

Growth Requires Discomfort

Change rarely happens in comfort. Just as your body adapts to the stress of training, your mindset grows through challenge. That might mean spending more time with people who push you out of your comfort zone or who hold you accountable to higher standards.

It can feel uncomfortable at first, especially if you’re used to being the most motivated person in the room. But growth happens when you are surrounded by people who expect more of you. They remind you that progress is possible and show you new ways of achieving it.

In the gym, this could be as simple as training alongside someone stronger or more experienced, learning from their approach and matching their consistency. In life, it might mean joining a community, taking on a new challenge or learning from a mentor who brings out your best qualities.

Building Your Support Network

Building a supportive circle takes intention. It starts by seeking out people who reflect the qualities you want to develop. Look for those who live with purpose, consistency and kindness.

You can start by:

Spending more time with people who encourage your goals.
Joining communities or teams that share your values.
Finding a coach or mentor who challenges and supports you.
Limiting time spent in negative environments, whether online or in person.

When you consciously build your network, you begin to notice how much easier it becomes to stay aligned with your goals: accountability, encouragement and shared purpose turn effort into progress.

The Link Between Happiness And Health

Being around positive, supportive people does more than lift your mood. It directly affects your health and well-being. Happiness has a physiological impact on the body. When you feel supported and connected, stress levels drop, recovery improves and motivation increases.

In fitness, this connection is clear. People who enjoy the process, who laugh, connect and feel part of something bigger than themselves, are far more likely to stay consistent. Progress becomes a by-product of enjoying the journey.

At Foundry, we place as much emphasis on community as we do on coaching. The shared energy, encouragement and connection between members are often what keep people coming back. It is proof that surrounding yourself with the right people can make the difference between giving up and staying the course.

From Comfort To Fulfilment

Staying in comfortable patterns may feel safe, but it rarely leads to fulfilment. Growth requires stepping beyond what feels familiar and surrounding yourself with people who help you see more in yourself.

This does not mean abandoning old friendships or cutting ties unnecessarily. It simply means being intentional with your time. The people you spend the most time with influence your thoughts, your habits and your future. Choosing them wisely is one of the most powerful forms of self-development.

Ask yourself: do the people closest to you push you forward, or do they hold you still? Are you encouraged to grow, or are you kept in a pattern of sameness? Awareness of this dynamic can be the first step towards real change.

Living The Foundry Mindset

We believe success is built on consistency, connection and accountability at Foundry Gyms. You do not have to do everything alone. When you train, learn and grow alongside driven and supportive people, the process becomes more enjoyable and more effective.

The same principle applies to life outside the gym. Surround yourself with people who challenge you, inspire you and celebrate your wins. They will help you stay focused on your goals, even when motivation dips.

The people around you shape who you become. Choose those who make you stronger, happier and more confident in your direction. Build your circle with care, invest in those relationships and keep aiming higher.

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