Photo: D. Paul Graham, “Five” Austin Texas, 2023

“Monday 5 Things”™  …..  Your Five …..

Jim Rohn was quoted to have said “you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” I’ve always been fascinated by the truth of that axiom. The people in our lives, the relationships we have, and the choice of who we spend our time with will directly influence our decisions, our direction, and the quality of our life. This morning’s M5T considers our best Five people in our lives.

1. Share with your best Five.

Brainstorm with them. You can trust your five to share your goals and dreams. You’ll know they should be a part of your five when they encourage you, think with you, and want to see you succeed. Your five will be honest with you. Visualize with them and widen your reach with them. Question with them and explore what fulfills you.

2. Time with your best Five.

Break bread with them. Connect with them. Take time with them. Make time for them. Foster fellowship with them. Cherish them. Communicate deeply and often with them. Your best Five are easy to be with, without thinking about it. Share space with them. Your best Five will listen to your joys and sorrows, your passions, and your fears.

3. Be intentional with your best Five.

Are the five people that you spend time with positive or negative? Be intentional with who you spend time with. Living intentionally clarifies thought. Intentional thought reduces stress, anxiety and expands your life. Refine your focus with them. Share your burdens. Share your joys with them. Release anxiety with them. Your best Five accentuates the positive and develops unity in your relationships.

4. Appreciate your best Five.

Your Five are divine appointments in life. Bless them, pray for them and be thankful for them. Your best Five bring out the best in you and cultivates a way of sharing yourself and bringing peace into your live and theirs. Blessing others a mindset of gratefulness. Your best Five helps you stay in the moment. Your best Five remove negativity, accentuate the positive, and cultivate unity.

5. Build with your best Five.

Understand who your best Five are. Value them. Connect with them. Bloom with them. Journey with them. Disrupt with them. Build trust with them. Laugh with them. Cry with them. Live a richer life with them. Choose your Five wisely.

Here’s to a week of your Five people. To questioning and understanding how your Five affect your life and to honestly asking if they are your best Five. To realizing that you are a part of someone else’s Five and honestly asking if you are a best Five for their lives.

© 2023 D. Paul Graham, all rights reserved.

For over 11 years, D. Paul Graham has published “Monday 5 Things” ™, also known to readers as M5T. You can reach Paul by email at dpg@imagegraham.com