Written by: Amanda Cottrell, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Have you ever heard the quote, “your vibe attracts your tribe?” If you ever feel as though you are in a rut when it comes to your vision of life or not achieving the goals you are hoping to achieve, the first thing to do is look at who you surround yourself with.
Do the people you spend the most time with inspire you to be your best you? Do they help lift you and guide you to the next step on your journey? Or do they hold you back and make you question your goals and ambitions?
Motivational speaker John Rohan says, “You are an average of the five people you spend the most time with.” If you want to change the situation you are in, the first step is to change who you surround yourself with. Take a tough look at the people you spend the most time with. If you have big aspirations, it may be time to seek out others who also do.
When I was a new mom, all of my close friends were new moms. They were my tribe. It was a great tribe, and I am super grateful for having that tribe at that time. As time passed, I began to realize I had bigger aspirations and goals. I finished my Masters Degree while working full-time and in the middle of a divorce, and I found myself not really “vibing” with the tribe I had previously enjoyed so much.
I was soul searching and had so many goals and ideas in my head but did not know where to start. As I began my journey to achieve my goals, amazing new people started popping into my life and becoming my new tribe of entrepreneurial women who aimed high and did not let having a family or a divorce stop them from their aspirations. These are the people who became my new tribe. As I started to change my vision and what I wanted to attract into my life, the people in my life changed too.
Have you ever met someone and just felt completely inspired by them? These are the type of people you want to surround yourself with and become best friends to change your life and achieve your goals. You know those people, the ones who just ooze a confident presence that so many people are in awe of because of how they have built their business or achieved goals beyond what you could possibly fathom in that moment.
If you do not know anyone like that right now, don’t worry. They will start popping into your life as you start to change your outlook. When I wrote my first children’s book, my original plan was just to have one copy in my classroom that I would make on my computer and have printed. However, as I was in the process of illustrating the book, I was tagged by a friend in a post on Facebook about a lady looking for an illustrator. While I did not end up illustrating for her, I did learn that she was coaching people how to self-publish on Amazon, so I ended up taking her course. A tag on Facebook was also how I got my first job as an illustrator. Another friend tagged me in a similar post. I did end up illustrating for her. Then oddly enough, her book and my first book were ready to publish in the same month. Once you start taking little steps towards your goals, the right people will show up to help guide and inspire you.
Now the people who are closest to me are also people are entrepreneurs and business owners. I have also made connections with amazing people worldwide who are taking daily steps towards their goals while also being single parents or running households. If you had told me 8 years ago that before I was 40, I would have illustrated and self-published 8 children’s books while working full-time and being a single parent, I would have laughed at you and said that is not possible. Yet here I am. If you want something bad enough and start taking action, you will achieve what you never thought was possible.
Is there an aspect of your life that you want to change because it is not the space where you dream of being in? Then start taking little steps towards your goals, and the tribe of people you need to surround yourself with will start showing up!
Amanda Cottrell, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Believe! Create! Inspire! Amanda Marie Cottrell is a woman who wears many hats with a BA in Political Science, B.Ed in elementary education, M.Ed specializing in creativity and technology, Reiki master, yoga for young children instructor, artist, mom, author, illustrator, and teacher. She also runs an arts-based business teaching art and mindfulness workshops. As an educator of young children for over 14 years, Amanda’s passion is education and creativity. She believes that everyone has creative capacities. Her mission is to empower people by tapping into their own unique creative gifts through connection and mindfulness. Namaste!
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