We all want to believe that no matter what we choose to do in life we will have the support of both our friends and families. It’s an honest mistake to be sure and it’s a beautiful thought at the core, but it’s not a realistic view to hold onto.  We can expect that others will not fully agree with our chosen plan, but what we don’t expect is that any of our choices might end up turning those closest to us against us.

Be warned that these enemies can bring us down if we let them. They are the types of jealous and unhealthy toxic minds that try to convince you that boundaries are personal insults to them, and they can work in the background to undermine what you are trying to accomplish. You have been warned.  

When you fear creating stress within your relationships so much that you place your dreams and desires on hold to accommodate the resistance you are finding in others, you ultimately, end up hurting both sides because you deny them from seeing who you truly are, and more importantly, you deny yourself from growing into who you are supposed to be.

You are not supposed to stay the same person.

You are supposed to change and experience and grow. You are on a unique journey, and all journeys require movement, and standing in place, stuck as the same person, is not an option here.

The problem is that many of us are wired to please. We are addicted to the acceptance of those around us, and without even knowing it we gradually suffocate our souls by choosing to value the comfort and happiness of another over our well-being.

So then, how do we avoid turning the ones we care about against us as we follow a new path?  Simply put, we don’t.

That’s right, there is no way to avoid potentially alienating yourself from some of those around you, don’t even try. We live in a world filled with jealousy, miscommunication, fears, rules, and generational programming, and the hard truth is that your friends and family are not immune to suffering all these human issues, just like the rest of us. Add in all the different personality types and it’s just one big mess of emotions and intentions, both good and bad.

This is it.

You have one chance to live the life that you want, on your terms, without too many regrets to carry with you along the way, or you can focus on what others think of your needs and allow yourself to start walking their path instead of your own, because this way no one gets hurt…well, minus you.

I highly suggest that you choose you, every single fucking time.

It’s ok to lose friends. You will find more.

It’s ok to be a disappointment to others, you will never shine perfectly in everyone’s eyes (no one ever does).

It’s ok to take a chance on something that others fear doing themselves, this is more than ok to be honest, for this is what any traveler hoping to forage a new path ahead has to do.

We are bound to no one.

We are all captains of our ships.

And where we choose to go next is completely up to us, unless you find yourself too afraid of making an enemy along the way, that is.

In that case, you are not a captain of any ship at all, but the anchor that is choosing to hold it down.

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