Why Extraordinary People Avoid Mediocre Friends

Even the strongest and most independent individuals inevitably adapt to their environment. This is why it is so essential to be among those who inspire you.

To succeed and realize your most ambitious plans, you should stay away from those who cannot dream or achieve like you. Our environment affects us much more than it might seem at first glance. If your social circle is made up of mediocre people and doubters,  sooner or later, you will become one of them.

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Read also: 3 Ways to Make More Friends

How we mimic the crowd

American psychologist Solomon Ash once conducted such an experiment; he drew a straight black line on a white background and asked volunteers to estimate its length by looking at it. It turned out that the opinion of others strongly influenced the personal assessment of each participant. If everyone around them called a deliberately shorter line length, therefore the volunteer likewise had a tendency to undervalue it, and vice versa. People literally saw this line differently depending on what others said about it.

When we have an idea or opinion that coincides with the people's thoughts and opinions, we feel approved and supported. And when our ideas and opinions do not find a response, the part of the brain responsible for pain is activated.

We have two choices in this situation.

  1. We can pretend to agree with the majority, but to ourselves remain unconvinced.
  2. We can revise our judgments and adapt them so that they do not contradict the environment.

According to recent research, we choose the second option more often than we think.

Why Extraordinary People Avoid Mediocre Friends
Image source: Reproduction/Internet

Also read: 8 Signs Your Boss Appreciates You, Even if He Doesn’t Show You

How to find the right environment

If you have extraordinary, innovative ideas, then a mediocre skeptical environment will most likely not accept them and make you doubt yourself.

But if you are surrounded by the same non-standard-minded people who prefer to look for opportunities rather than obstacles, your potential will develop to unprecedented heights. Even if you haven't always been very creative, in the appropriate environment, your creativity will certainly show itself in the appropriate environment

Adapted and translated by The Cop Cart Staff

Sources: Life hacker

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