Atharv’s Chronicle 15-04-2025 “WHO IS INFLUENCING YOU?”

Welcome to this edition of my newsletter!

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself: Who is really influencing me?

Most of us live our lives shaped not by conscious decisions, but by the people, systems, and environment we’re constantly exposed to – parents, teachers, friends, colleagues, society, and now more than ever, social media and celebrity culture.

From childhood, we learn by observing and we usually absorb everything when we are young. How we speak, treat others, even what we believe is right or wrong—it’s all shaped by what we’ve seen and heard. But have we ever questioned where these ideas came from, or why we believe them?

 see some real time examples

• You’re on vacation. The beach is beautiful, the weather’s perfect, but you’re spending more time curating the perfect post for Instagram than actually soaking it in. You came to relax, to connect -but somewhere down the line, validation through likes and views took over the real reason you came. That’s influence.
• You’re at a restaurant and you call the waiter with a “chhh-chh/ Oye” sound. No eye contact, no “sir” or “madam” or “bhaiyya.” Why? You didn’t invent that behaviour on your own. You saw someone else do it. You learned it. That’s influence too.
• At the dinner table, you blame the ruling party for all the problems in the country. But have you done your research? Or are you just echoing what a loud news anchor said the night before?
• Another example A man doesn’t let his wife work simply because his father never let his mother step outside for a job. He might be educated, working in a metro city, even traveling abroad but that one inherited mindset silently influences his decisions. It’s not about what’s right or wrong anymore – it’s about what was never questioned.

Influences shape mindsets. Mindsets shape futures.

Now to talk about celebrity influence possibly one of the strongest forces today.

Celebrity influence drives our choices without us questioning the reality behind it

• You want to buy a particular chips brand because Virat Kohli promotes it. But the same Virat follows a strict, clean diet. Do you really think he munches on Tedhe Medhe after a gym session?
• Ranbir Kapoor promotes Oppo phones, but in reality, he uses an iPhone. Happens across everything – celebrities use one thing, promote another.
• Herbalife products – Kohli and Ronaldo are brand ambassadors and promote them, but do they really consume them daily or even at all?
• Even respected cricketers like Sourav Ganguly now endorse betting apps under the banner of “fantasy cricket.” Legal? Yes. Ethical? That’s a question we need to ask ourselves.

The message is this: Not everything that looks good, is good. And not everyone who influences you, deserves that power over your choices.

So how do we tackle this ourselves?

We need a gatewall – a filter to help us decide what to take in and what to block out, otherwise we carry lot of borrowed thoughts and habits.

Build a Gatewall – kind of mental filter:

• Audit your influences: Who are you listening to/following daily? Friends? News? Influencers? Are they adding value or noise?
• Pause before accepting: Just because a celeb said it or a family elder believed it doesn’t make it true.
• Think Independently: Challenge traditions, break patterns, and form your own principles.
• Seek real inspiration: Look up to people who live their values, not just perform them in ads.
• Consume consciously: Be it chips, phones, or philosophies—know why you want something before you buy into it.

And remember—not all influence is harmful. Being influenced by kindness, wisdom, authenticity – that’s beautiful. Good book pushes you to grow. Genuine mentor shapes your discipline. Let a child’s questions spark curiosity. That’s positive influence.

We can’t just block the world out there but to be aware of what we’re consuming.

So the next time you find yourself thinking, buying, reacting, or deciding—pause and ask: Is this truly my voice, or someone else’s echo?

Let’s start making conscious choices. Audit your influences. Protect your mind. And most importantly – choose who gets to shape your story.

Hope this resonated with you! See you int the next episode!