Surrounding Yourself with the Right People is Key to Thriving
Have you ever noticed how some people bring out the best in you? You can feel their positive energy lifting you, encouraging you to be your best self. Then, there are others whose presence feels draining, making you question your own strength. Just like plants need the right environment to thrive, we, too, need the right people in our lives to grow and flourish.
I’ve learned firsthand how being surrounded by the right support can completely transform our energy and potential. We are social beings, and the people we choose to spend our time with deeply influence our mindset, motivation, and overall well-being. Whether in friendships, work relationships, or family dynamics, the right people can encourage us, challenge us, and create the space for us to truly thrive.
In this article, I’ll share a few lessons I’ve learned from my plants—and how they’ve reminded me of the profound impact the right company can have on our growth. Just as a plant’s environment can nurture or hinder its growth, the right people can create an environment where we, too, can bloom into our full potential.
The Christmas Cactus
The Christmas cactus is one of the most easy-going of my plants, constantly blooming over the entire year and thriving with little effort. Despite its long history with me, she never demands much attention, yet always seems to flourish in any environment. She’s a plant that thrives in the presence of the basics, enough water and sunlight, and good energy.
The Christmas cactus reminds me of the type of people who bring light into your life effortlessly. They’re the ones who exude positive energy, providing support without expecting anything in return. Like this plant, they need little to thrive, yet their presence is vital for growth. Surrounding ourselves with these positive influences – people who uplift us, encourage us, and inspire us – can have a powerful impact on our own success and happiness.
In life, just as my Christmas cactus blooms more often than expected, we too can surpass expectations when surrounded by people who create an uplifting and supportive environment. Whether it’s friends, mentors, or colleagues, the right people can provide the space we need to grow and thrive without unnecessary strain.
The Cyclamen’s Comeback: How the Right Support Can Revive Us
My cyclamen is one of my most elegant plants, but she’s also a bit more delicate. After a severe bug infestation from another plant, it was reduced to only a single leaf. I feared she was beyond saving, which hurt because she’s been with me for almost a decade, and made the move with me from Turkey to Germany. Also, she was a gift from a friend. I believed in her resiliency though, so I decided to move her next to my Christmas cactus, hoping the proximity to its vibrant energy might help.
Just as I’d dearly hoped, the cyclamen started to bounce back. Slowly but surely, new leaves began to grow, and its vitality returned. My cyclamen just needed a little nudge, the right energy and environment – a friend – to restore itself to its full potential.
This comeback reminded me of how powerful the right support can be, especially when we’re at our lowest. We’ve all been through tough times – times when we feel drained, discouraged, or even defeated. Down to our last leaf. But sometimes, simply by being around the right people can give us the strength to rise again. People who are patient, understanding, and positive can provide the encouragement we need to heal and thrive. The right support can often be the key to revitalizing our lives when we feel like we’re barely hanging on.
The Orchid: Finding the Right Space to Bloom
My orchid is probably the most delicate of my plants. Truth be told, I struggle to know what she wants! Unlike the Christmas cactus, which thrives almost effortlessly, the orchid is a bit more particular. Its roots are exposed, above the soil, and she’s extremely sensitive to her environment. I had placed it on one side of my windowsill, next to a large climbing plant from Italy. While this plant is stunning, (and so much fun, because it grows in every direction!) its presence I think, was overwhelming for the fragile orchid. That energy was simply too much for her, and she started to shrivel, slowly but surely.
It wasn’t that I was neglecting the orchid – believe me, I can’t tell you how much time I spent researching how to take care of orchids; it was that she needed a different environment – a more peaceful space to truly thrive. Once I moved her to the other side of the window sill, next to the Christmas cactus, I could see the change. It took some months, but my little moth orchid began to revive, and right now, little buds have started to form! She was finally in the right space to bloom.
The orchid’s experience is a perfect reminder of how we sometimes need to find the right people and environment to grow. Not all good people are for you. Not all relationships or situations will nurture us the way we need. We, too, can feel drained or stifled when we’re surrounded by energy that doesn’t align with our own. But once we’re in the right space – surrounded by people who truly understand and support us – we can blossom in ways we never thought possible.
The Importance of Choosing Your Circle Wisely
As I’ve learned from this little trio of my plants, the right environment is essential for thriving. The same is true for us. The company we keep – whether friends, family, or colleagues – shapes our energy and influences our growth. Surrounding ourselves with individuals who nurture, challenge, and support us can make all the difference in our success, well-being, and happiness.
It’s essential to recognize when we need to change our surroundings or connect with new people who align with our values and goals. Just as plants are deeply affected by their environment, we too can experience profound growth when we choose the right people to surround ourselves with. So, take a moment to reflect: are you in the right environment to thrive? Surround yourself with the people who make you feel seen, supported, and ready to bloom.