Influence of Others | Declutter | Find Love
Hello there! Welcome to my weekly LEAPS.
You’re receiving this email because you subscribed to my weekly Wednesday feature or our mailing list. Every Wednesday, I share 5 things using our LEAPS approach:
Learn: something new or an idea
Energy: an energy (good or bad) word and it’s meaning
Action: something to do
Processing: a question to consider
Shout out: something or someone that I want to celebrate or acknowledge
LEARN
Something Worth Sharing
The Influence of Others
’Influence’ - and ‘influencing’ - is a hot topic. In The Times Top 100 Influential People of the Century, it is felt that of the 100 chosen, Albert Einstein is the ‘Most Influential Person of the Century’, on the grounds that he was the preeminent scientist in a century dominated by science. Runners up were Mahatma Gandhi, followed by Franklin D Roosevelt. When I Googled: ‘who is the most influential person in the world at the moment’, the answer was Elon Musk.
While these people certainly are influential, it made me consider who influences me. I’m not a fan of “influencers” on social media so they don’t tend to be who I look to. Social influence involves intentional and unintentional efforts to change another person's beliefs, attitudes, or behaviour. Unlike persuasion, which is typically intentional and requires some degree of awareness, social influence may be subconscious or accidental. I once read that we influence - and can grow to resemble - our romantic partner over time through empathic mimicry or similarities in lifestyle - now there’s a thought about the power of influence!
While driving along the narrow, steep and winding roads through the French Alps last week, I noticed that when the odd car appeared behind or in front of me, it influenced me. When behind someone I relaxed a little as they shone their full beam and helped to guide us. When in front of someone I felt a pressure - especially if they were too close to my rear bumper!
The saying "you are who you surround yourself with" reflects the idea that the people we spend time with can have a significant influence on our thoughts, behaviours, and attitudes (and appearance!).
I guess the point is, we are constantly influenced by others - even when we aren’t aware or are repulsed! We do, however, get to choose who and what influences us for the most part - for example, we can choose to be surrounded by positive, kind, supportive, and motivated people. We can also choose to distance ourselves from those that moan, judge, belittle, are negative, unmotivated, or toxic.
Psychological research supports the idea that our social environment can shape our self-perception, beliefs, and behaviours. Therefore, being mindful of the company we keep can have a profound impact on our health and well-being.
ENERGY
An emotion or energy; a stand-out word / s
Care
I love this word. It originates from the Old English word CARU, meaning "sorrow, anxiety, grief" also "burdens of mind; serious mental attention," in late Old English also meant "concern, anxiety caused by apprehension of evil or the weight of many burdens".
Caring about something or someone is to have them in your mind - and heart.
ACTION
Something small that you can do that might make a big difference
Declutter
It’s that time of year! Throw open the cupboards, wardrobes and drawers, and have a good old clear out! Donate to charity, recycle, sell and give away the clutter - you’ll feel better for it!
PROCESSING
A question to think about and consider (you can discuss this with someone or write your thoughts down)
“How am I best using my time?”
Time and health are the most valuable resources we have. We need to both protect them and use them wisely. The question this week aims to focus on time and how well you’re choosing to use yours.
I’d love for you to send me your own stories / thoughts about this. Drop me a line with your answer / thoughts on this question
SHOUT OUT
Who / what I think deserves recognition - my gratitude or to be celebrated.
National Parks
I dropped our daughter off this week to do a ‘test-run’ for her Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. She has to camp out in the middle of nowhere for the week - and the location for this is the Peak District National Park which is in the middle of England. As we drove there to drop her off, we were struck by the beauty of this vast terrain. I told her about the other National Parks we have in the UK, and also ones we’ve been lucky enough to visit elsewhere in the world. Shout out goes to all of them! What a blessing they are.
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LEAPS is a process used by our team and clients all the time - and even my own family on a daily basis.
I’ll be sharing a set of LEAPS each week with you and encourage you to do your own version:
L: what have you learned?
E: what’s your energy / feeling word
A: what’s one thing you need to do?
P: what are you thinking / processing?
S: who or what can you shout out?
