We know from research that growth is actually contagious, so if

Hear the words of Henry Cloud, who declared: “We know from research that growth is actually contagious, so if you want to reach your goals, you’ve got to get around people that are going in the same direction you want to be going, and you will catch the success.” In this, he speaks not only of science, but of an eternal truth known to the ancients: that the spirit of a man is shaped by the company he keeps, and that greatness is rarely born in isolation. For just as fire spreads from torch to torch, so too does growth spread from soul to soul.

The ancients warned often of the power of influence. The philosopher said, “Tell me who your friends are, and I will tell you who you are.” The warrior was counseled never to march with cowards, lest their fear seep into his bones. And the farmer knew that one diseased vine could poison the whole harvest, while one strong root could give strength to all around it. Thus Cloud’s teaching is the echo of this wisdom: surround yourself with those who strive upward, and you too will rise. Surround yourself with those who sink, and you too will drown.

Consider the story of the Spartans at Thermopylae. Three hundred men stood against thousands, and yet their courage held because each man drew strength from the others. Alone, any one of them might have fled. But in the company of such warriors, each found his resolve contagious. Their unity turned a hopeless battle into immortal glory. Here we see Cloud’s words in living fire: the greatness of one multiplies when bound to the greatness of others.

So too in the lives of the learned. The Renaissance was not the triumph of one man, but the flowering of many gathered together. Artists, philosophers, scientists, and poets—each inspired the other, each sharpened the other’s vision. Leonardo, Michelangelo, Galileo—none stood alone. Their brilliance fed upon one another’s, and the age became a blaze of progress that reshaped the world. This is the power of contagious growth, where the striving of one ignites the striving of all.

But beware, for the opposite is true as well. Just as growth is contagious, so is mediocrity. A man who dreams of soaring but walks only with those content to crawl will find his wings grow heavy. The gossiping, the idle, the faithless—such companions pull one downward, slowly but surely, until he forgets he ever longed to rise. This is why Cloud urges us to be deliberate, to choose wisely the circle that shapes our destiny. For we are all, in some measure, the reflection of those who surround us.

To you who hear this, take it as sacred instruction: if you would achieve your goals, seek out the company of those who dream as you dream, who labor as you labor, who burn with the same fire. Place yourself among them, and let their energy stir your own. Encourage them, and be encouraged in return. In this fellowship of striving, your path will be lifted higher than you could walk alone.

Practical wisdom follows: examine your companions. Ask yourself: Do they lift me toward my vision, or do they drag me back into the dust? If the answer is the latter, do not hate them, but guard your path. Seek mentors, allies, and friends whose lives shine with the success you seek. Walk with them, serve with them, learn from them. In their company, you will find your spirit strengthened, and their victories will kindle your own.

Thus remember Henry Cloud’s truth: growth is contagious, success is caught, and destiny is shaped by those who walk beside you. Choose your circle with care, and you will find that the flame of others becomes the flame of your own heart. In this way, you will not only catch success—you will pass it on, and others will rise because of you.