I think this idea is thought-provoking from multiple angles
and I encourage you to spend some time with it and ideally use it to
proactively improve your life. Here are
some of my noodlings on this idea, which I believe to be extremely useful, even
if I may quibble with it around the edges…
So what’s the exact equation?
Is it really 5 people, or could it be 4, 6 or 7? Do they all have to be in your life right now
or can past influencers count? More
broadly (and mathematically), what are the weights on each person (variable) in
the equation and how do you account for time?
This relates to quality vs. quantity time – is it possible that someone
you’re rarely with can impact you disproportionally? I think that’s possible, but I believe Jim
Roh’s points was that you do need to look at what you do and who you do it with
EVERY DAY. And can a country or company or other
organization count as one of your influencers?
I believe the answer is YES.
Think about the following… Over time, people begin to resemble their spouses. Sometimes there even seem to evolve
similarities between people and their dogs!
This seems sort of funny, yet it’s true.
And why is there such positive power in the family dinner? If “you are what you eat”,
then this makes perfect sense. People
who eat the same food together become more similar. Groups (races, nations, age cohorts, regions,
etc.) with similar eating habits develop a culture, which consists of shared
beliefs and behaviors. I love that the
founder of my nutrition school (Institute for Integrative Nutrition*), Joshua
Rosenthal, says that when he goes to dinner with a friend he makes a point to
let them order first, and then orders what they did so that their bodies &
minds can be on the same wavelength from the food, and they can connect over –
and as a result of – their shared meal. More
insidiously, you have probably read about the studies that demonstrate
“clustering” of obesity – that your chances of becoming obese increase
significantly if you have a friend who becomes obese during a given time
interval. Same goes for spouses or
siblings.1
Let’s take this sharing a step further. Deepak Chopra, the famed M.D.,
neuroendocrinologist, and mind-body medicine expert who never fails to deliver mind-blowing
research findings & ideas, has described human beings as verbs or processes,
not nouns or structures. We are
constantly changing and evolving. With
every inhale, Dr. Chopra describes, we take on 1022 new atoms; the
same goes for every exhale – that’s a lot of new atoms in, and a lot out! Each time we breathe, we incorporate atoms
from our surroundings into our bodies, and we exhale massive amounts as
well. Did you know that our breath is
the most important detoxifying mechanism that our bodies have? Not sweat, not elimination – breath! Our bodies are incessantly regenerating. This is an opportunity! As Dr. Chopra asks: “Who do you want your 2012
model to be?”
I hope you will take some time to think about your “5
people” (plus or minus!), evaluate your current situation, and make plans/set
goals for modifying it if your situation doesn’t serve you. And please remember that it’s
reciprocal. You are doubtless one of the 5 people
for others in your life, and that’s a great privilege, a great opportunity, and
also a great responsibility.
1Christakis, Nicholas A., M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H.,
and Fowler, James H, Ph. D. ”The Spread of Obesity in a Large Social Network
over 32 Years.” New England Journal of
Medicine. July 26, 2007. <http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa066082Special
Article.>
Great post Niki. You gave me pause today... You really do need to think about how you spend your time - with people, food, thoughts.
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