Why do ordinary people avoid mediocre friends

Even the strong and independent personality inevitably adapt to their surroundings. That is why it is so important to be among those who inspire you.

To be successful and to realize their most ambitious plans, should stay away from those who can neither dream nor seek. Our environment affects us far more than it may seem at first glance. If your social circle is made up of the mediocre and the skeptics, you will sooner or later become one of them.

As we mimicking a crowd

American psychologist Solomon Asch conducted once an experiment: he drew a straight black line on a white background and asked for volunteers for the eye to determine its length. It turned out that on the personal assessment of each member is strongly influenced by the opinion of others. If everything is called obviously shorter line, and the volunteer was also inclined to downplay it, and vice versa. People literally saw differently this line, depending on what is talked about around it.

When we have an idea or opinion, which coincides with the thoughts and opinions of other people, we feel welcomed and supported. And when our ideas and opinions do not find the response of the brain is activated share, is responsible for the pain.

In this case, we have two options:

1. We can pretend that you agree with the majority, but to himself, to remain unconvinced.
2. We can review their judgment and adapt them so that they do not contradict the environment.

According to recent studiesNeural signatures of social conformity: A coordinate-based activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis of functional brain imaging studies, We choose the second option more often than we think.

How to choose the right environment

If you have an unusual, innovative ideas, mediocre skeptical environment is not likely to accept them and will make you doubt yourself.

But if you are surrounded by the same non-standard thinking people who prefer to look for opportunities, not obstacles, your potential will develop to unprecedented heights. Even if you have never differed special creativity, In an appropriate environment your creativity will certainly manifest itself.

As our way of thinking depends not only on us but also on our environment, configure your social circle so that it consisted predominantly of people to whom you want to be like. After all, those with whom we have to communicate every day, change not only our mood, but also ourselves.