Choose Your Circle, Change Your Life

Some people loved you better when you were broken—that’s the uncomfortable truth that sparks this conversation about growth, support, and the circles that shape who we become. We pull back the curtain on the social side of change, from weight loss to life redesign, and talk frankly about why not everyone will clap when you start to rise. If you’ve ever felt resistance from the people closest to you, this is a roadmap for protecting your energy, strengthening your standards, and finding a community that actually fuels your goals.

Jay shares the emotional whiplash of shifting habits—saying no to comfort foods is hard, but saying no to old expectations is harder. We break down the difference between playful teasing and subtle sabotage, and show how to set clear, observable boundaries that honor your new identity. You’ll hear why alignment beats approval, how to handle the lonely middle between the old room and the right room, and what it means to choose progress over comfort on ordinary days when motivation runs thin.

We also dig into the power of community—like the consistency and shared language Jay found in Weight Watchers—and why a supportive environment reduces friction, normalizes effort, and makes discipline feel lighter. You’ll leave with a simple five-person audit, practical steps to expand your circle, and a mantra to carry forward: don’t shrink your dreams to fit your environment; find an environment big enough to fit your dreams. If you’re ready to grow stronger with people who get it, press play, take notes, and then take action.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who’s building a new life, and leave a quick review to help others find the community they need.

Chapters

• 0:00 Quote And Core Theme
• 0:43 Not Everyone Will Clap
• 1:04 Who You Surround Yourself With
• 2:03 Hidden Resistance From Loved Ones
• 3:10 Losing People To Find Yourself
• 4:20 Craving Progress Over Comfort
• 4:55 Finding Community In Weight Watchers
• 6:00 Loneliness, Solitude, And Alignment
• 7:10 Protecting Energy And Standards
• 8:08 The Five-People Audit And Actions
• 9:05 Don’t Shrink Your Dreams
• 10:00 Closing Challenge And Gratitude

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:04

So today I wanted to talk about something that was very important to me and something that you might relate to. Starting a journey, whether it's weight, whether it's big dreams that you may have, having people in your life that support you no matter what, no matter how many times you've started something, quit something. You really truly need people in your life to be there for you. And on today's episode, I wanted to start with a quote about what I'm gonna be talking about today. It says, when you start changing, not everyone will clap. Some people loved you better when you were broken because your light didn't shine on their shadows. Welcome back, my friends, to the 3 Million Step Awakening podcast. I'm your host, Jay Medina. Today's episode is about something powerful, something that will make or break your journey. It's about who you surround yourself with. Because no matter how strong your goals are, the people around you will either water your growth or drain your energy. And when you start to change, when you start chasing your health, your peace, your purpose, not everyone is going to understand it. At least at the beginning, or maybe even never. Some people will clap for you, some will question you, and a few, they'll quietly hope you go back to the old you, because that's who they were used to. But that's when your real strength begins. In learning how to surround yourself with people who ignite your growth, not those who smother it. Starting any kind of change, especially a health or weight loss journey, is already hard enough. You've got to deal with the workouts, the hunger, and the discipline. You've got to unlearn habits that used to comfort you. You're rebuilding yourself from the inside and out. You expect soreness, you expect the cravings, you expect the challenges, whatever may come. But what you don't expect is realizing that some of the people closest to you maybe or will never support the new you. Maybe they will tease you in your new eating habits. Maybe they will tell you just to skip the gym today. Maybe they will just roll their eyes when you talk about your new goals. And that's when suddenly you realize your biggest challenge isn't the weight on the scale, it's the weight of other people's expectations. The hardest part of my journey wasn't saying no to food or to get up and put my shoes on and take a walk. It was saying no to people who wanted to keep me the same. My old self attracted people who were comfortable staying comfortable, people who liked that I said yes to everything, people who didn't push themselves and didn't want me to either. When I decided to change, I started eating differently, thinking differently, showing up differently, and suddenly I wasn't fun anymore. I wasn't available anymore. That wasn't rejection, it was my revelation. It showed me who was truly for me and who was just for the version of me that made them comfortable. And here's the truth the realization hurts, but it's necessary because the people who can't handle your growth aren't your people, they're your past. When I started my health journey, I didn't just lose weight. I lost the version of myself that tolerated less. Less than I deserved. I started moving more, I started feeling so much better. I was thinking way clearer. I started craving progress instead of comfort. I also started craving progress instead of food. And the more I grew, the more I realized how important community really is. That's why I joined Weight Watchers. That community holds me to my standard, my new standard. They support me, they don't make me wrong, they give me grace, they share, they open themselves up. Those are the people you want to surround yourself around. The ones that are up to what you're up to. Because when you're surrounded by people who are also growing, something amazing happens. You feed off each other's energy, you hold each other accountable, you become stronger together. That's why you've got to be intentional about who's in your circle. Are you surrounded by the people who celebrate your wins or by people who question them? Because one group pushes you forward and the other one keeps you small. And the truth is, if you want to go far, you can't do it alone. Let's be honest. Growth can get lonely when you outgrow certain environments, it can feel like losing a part of yourself. You might find that your old friends don't reach out as much. You might start spending more time alone. But don't confuse solitude with isolation. Sometimes God separates you so He can strengthen you. Because before you find your people, the ones who get it, the ones who push you, the ones who cheer you on no matter what, you've got to make space for them. So yes, it's lonely at first, but that's only temporary. When you stay true to your path, the right community will find you. People who understand your why. People who don't enable your old habits, they empower your new ones. People who won't say, Let's skip the gym, but instead, instead say, I'll meet you there. Those are your people. And when you find them, protect that energy. Alignment matters more than approval. You don't need everyone to like your journey. You need people who believe in it. So find that community that challenges you, not the one that enables you. Surround yourself with people who talk about goals, habits, healing, and purpose, not gossip, excuses, and comfort. I have an amazing group of people in my life. I have amazing friends, I have amazing family, and I have an amazing community at Weight Watchers. The right circle doesn't drain you, it refills you. Because when your environment supports your growth, you don't have to fight so hard to stay disciplined. You don't have to explain why you're changing. They just get it. They're growing too. So here's my challenge for you today, my friends. Look at the five people you spend the most time with. Do they inspire you or do they enable you? Do they cheer when you rise or get quiet when you win? Be honest, because your future depends on that answer. If your circle doesn't reflect your goals, it's time to expand it. Join a group like Weight Watchers. Take a class at the gym. Find a walking buddy that you can just share stories with. Follow people who motivate you online. Get in rooms where growth is normal. Because you deserve to be surrounded by people who remind you of your power. Not that past where you were not your strong self. Don't shrink your dreams to fit your environment. Instead, find an environment big enough to fit your dreams. Keep walking. Keep growing. Keep becoming the confident, powerful version of yourself. Even if others don't understand you yet. Because one day, they'll see what you saw all along. That this isn't just a weight loss journey, it's a life gain journey. It's your rebirth. Understand that. This is your rebirth. Here's to the company, you my friends, the one building a life surrounded by love, alignment, and strength. Until next time. Keep on choosing yourself. Keep finding that amazing drive for yourself. Because your environment can either limit your growth or launch it. Choose the one that lifts you higher, my friends. Until next time, thank you for listening to my podcast and always supporting me and always being in my community. Because of you, you lift me higher.