The Downside of Positive Change
I was recently talking with a friend about making major life changes. We were talking about how amazing it can feel, yet at the same time there comes this sense of confusion. Confusion because as you work so hard to move your life in a positive direction, everything around you remains the same. It can be disorienting, frustrating, and exhausting feeling like that fish swimming upstream. But it’s also incredibly enlightening.
The biggest observation to the external impact is that people are going to comment. There will certainly be the positive praise that you’re doing a great job chasing your dream, taking care of yourself, or whatever your change may be focused toward.
Then there’s going to be the follow up. The unintentional backhanded remarks. That moment when people say you seem "different". That they’ve never seen you this way and it doesn’t seem like you. It's going to be hard to keep pushing forward. Annoying. Frustrating that they can’t just commend your growth. Befuddling as to why they think they know the “real you” more than you do. Confusing as to why they would want to honor the you that you are trying to leave behind.
Just remember: as long as you're at peace with yourself and the changes you're making, let those comments serve as a reminder of just how far you've come. You controlling your life {and in my case, anxiety} is all that matters.
Over time the things and people that aren't meant be there for the change will fade away. But one day you'll look up and realize all that stuff that once seemed the same is now so different. The negative people and things will become a distant memory because you quit giving it your time and attention. And you keep pushing forward. It's not always easy.
As I pursue some long time passion projects I often get tripped up talking about my plans. It’s not that I’m not insanely excited about the future and the ability to bring my visions to life. It’s that not everyone understands me. It can be hard for people to accept that this quirky, Disney loving, class clown, is writing a book, developing a summit, and networking others with {attainable} pipedreams like mine. I have to be ok with that hesitation from people.
Change, even for the good, can be incredibly lonely in that respect. But oddly, I've also never been happier than when I'm on a mission out of my own heart.
Surround yourself with positive people, messages, and projects. The rest will follow or fade away.
Go out and do big things. <3
