Ever feel like your biggest critics are those who are closest to you? Or other times those closest, do not share the same level of excitement or concern as you on a particularly topic or issue. Why do we feel we need that reassurance or guidance from our family or loved ones to convince us we are making a wise decision or will be ok? Put simply, you don’t!
Venturing out into the world, climbing mountains, kicking goals and chasing dreams can all occur if you believe in yourself. Every once in a while, life will throw us a curve ball and we have to pause and think how to tackle it. It is those times that we may find our plans and solutions to that challenge differ to those of the loved ones around us. This does not make it wrong nor does it make it a stupid idea. It is an idea that they may not have thought of and or yet do not have the confidence to try themselves. Not all our ideas are winners and will go seamlessly but how else would the human learn without the occasional mistake in their life.
“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life thinking it’s stupid.” – Albert Einstein
When challenge presents itself, and we hit those difficult times in life when we the call upon a loved one or friend seems like a great idea, only to be left feeling unheard or wrong can cause us to question ourselves. Sometimes, advice that we may not want to hear is exactly what we need to hear to help us make a wiser choice. Other times, we can go on to surprise others and ourselves when we do things against other’s expectations or advice. Expectations of others can be a heavy weight on an individual as we have no control over their thoughts or desires and so their expectations should not be the driver to us wanting to achieve our life’s goals.
“Expectation is the root of all heartache” – William Shakespeare
Whether you start a new business, join a new gym, plan to lose weight or get more muscular, meet a new partner, change career paths, purchase a new home, planning a wedding or making plans to start a family to name a few common life challenges, only you can determine what is right for you. If you have done your research and truly believe this is the best option for you than someone’s opinion or advice is merely that, an opinion or piece of advice. I am a true believer that everyone is entitled to an opinion and that there is no right or wrong but that when you share your opinion, be prepared to respect the receiving individual/s may not agree with you and or they may not take your opinion and advice on board and vice versa. And that is ok, because we are each in charge of our own lives.
In my experience, our loved ones, family/ friends all mean the absolute best when providing their opinion or advice and or lack thereof in some cases but this does not mean they intentionally mean to offend or insult you or that they do not care or support you. It can be due to a lack of education or life experience of that topic you are discussing. It could be contributed to them having a differing interpretation of the situation or event to you and or perhaps you, yourself have not been entirely clear that this issue or topic is important to you and that you would really value their input and or support on the matter. Whatever the case may be, your goals should be personal to you and therefore they should be the dreams and desires that YOU want to achieve.
“If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal. Not to people or things”. Albert Einstein
Remember; don’t set unrealistic expectations upon yourself because those around you say that it is the only way. Trust and believe in yourself and chase the life you desire. Do your research, be smart, and be realistic. Whatever presents itself around the next corner, welcome the challenge.
Glo in yourself…
K.
