Success Tip: Surround yourself with incredible people


Me and my photography hero, Jesh De Rox. September 2011

“Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher” -Oprah Winfrey

The people you allow in your circle of influence will either make or break you.

I’ve been so grateful time and time again for supportive family and friends.

I try to avoid or shed negative people like the plague…because thats exactly what they are. Contagious and fatal to ones creativity and success. How can you feel good about yourself and your pursuits with the presence of harmful negativity?

The influence that others have upon us is not limited to face to face interaction either. The books we read, the movies or shows we watch, the music we listen to, the blogs we follow, the facebook and twitter feeds we follow, the forums we read… all serve to either lift us up or bring us down.

Are you spending your time with fabulous people?

Do they make you feel good about yourself and your potential? Do you feel invigorated from your time spent together? If not, make some changes!

I was so inspired by Samm Blakes presentation at the Beloved Collective last week. She talked about how she got out of an unhealthy long-term relationship, sold her house, and moved to the other side of the country–so she could free herself from people who brought her down and instead live a life with people who could foster her growth.

For many of us, simply cutting out some of the blog stalking and parts of social media that pull us down could have just as miraculous of an effect.

Many have asked me about my experience last week at the Beloved Collective.

My first response is always, “It was so inspiring to be with so many inspiring people!”.

 

Never before have I been in a group of photographers that were so supportive, loving, encouraging, and eager for one another’s success. Quite typically, it is usually more of a competitive atmosphere.

Imagine being in a group of people who all love photography as much as you do. A group of people who care about who you are, and what you have to offer the world. A group of people who realize most of all that together we are stronger than we are alone.

So many of the mini workshops there included group work. We had opportunities to brainstorm ideas on how we can give back to our communities, how to find the beauty within ourselves as well as those we photograph, and ultimately how we can simply make the world a better place through our creativity.

Awesome.

Inspiring.

These experiences make me a better person–because I leave not only knowing that I am capable of more, but having the faith that I can do it.

They say that it takes a whole village to raise a child.

The concept is similar with any of us. It takes the influence of many great people to make a great person.

I’m so grateful for those who have influenced me specifically this year:

Julia Cameron (her book The Artist’s Way…though I’ve never met her, she’s changed my life!)

Sarah Ban Breathnach (her book Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort of Joy
…again, we’ve never met but her daily essays and methods have caused a huge paradigm shift for me this year.)

and finally…

Jesh De Rox.

WHO I AM NOW OFFICIALLY FRIENDS WITH IN REAL LIFE!!

Jesh is just as amazing in person as he is online.  His concepts of Beloved have changed how I see the world, how I see other people, and how I photograph forever.  I’m so grateful he had the courage to share his message with the world, because I am among a whole village of people who are better people because of him.

Who are among your inspirational influences?  Who builds you up?  What messages have you learned that have changed who you are?  I’d love for you to share!

Brooke Snow is a Lifestyle photographer in Cache Valley, Utah.  Among her best moments of the week, was the sweet return home…watching her husband fall asleep at 8:45 p.m. from an exhausting three day stint as the “Mom”.  His morning greeting was simple but effective, “I get it now!”.  What wonderful news!  She does love being appreciated, even if it takes three days of separation to foster the fervor!

Brooke teaches inspiring online photography classes that bring you confidence in your skills and creativity.

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10 Responses

  1. YOU inspire me, Brooke! I loved meeting you at the Beloved Collective, and I wish I’d have thought to get a photo of us together. I guess that means we’ll have to meet again sometime! 🙂

  2. YAY, I was waiting to hear how it went!!!! It makes my heart happy that you got the chance to meet somebody who has inspired you so much. YOU are definitely at the top (VERY TOP) of my inspirational influences. Your blog and classes are filled with such positive wisdom. I’m so glad my first educational experiences with photography came from you. I was introduced to the loving noncompetitive side of the industry thanks to you! I’m so grateful that as a new/shy artist, that I had a safe/supportive/positive place to come to learn. I’m not only a better photographer, but a better person in general from being in your classes and reading your lovely blog. THANK YOU SO MUCH BROOKE! YOU ROCK 🙂 And yes, you really are that great. Don’t let that creepy censor dude make you feel any less 😉

  3. Wonderful post. I find you to be so inspiring and I have never met you! I have loved every minute of your courses too. Every word of this post rang true! I am looking forward to your Beloved class. Thank you Brooke for being you. 🙂

  4. aah. You guys! Thank you! I wasn’t fishing for compliments, but I’m seriously humbled by your words. Everything I know I learned from someone else 🙂 Lets all pass it on!

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