Honoring the Journey

When we discover something new, we can have a tendency to want to share it with everyone we know. When it becomes an effective part of our life, at some point the desire to shout it out to the world feels so strong. However, what if those we care about don’t receive the information with the same amount of enthusiasm? How do we feel about that?

Say our secret to recovering from a cough and cold is to stop eating sugary treats and for three consecutive days every meal is to consist of hearty vegetable soup. Upon discovering a friend has come down with a nasty bout of a cough and cold, we share this knowledge because it could be the magic remedy for them too. What if that same friend found all vegetables disgusting? Would we still decide this is what’s best for them and deliver a batch of soup anyway?

Sharing information is what we do. When we wrap our feelings in with the information, it can become powerful and carry more weight when we deliver it. Still, it becomes a challenge to recognize that no matter how wonderful something may seem to us, others may not be ready for the information. There are many avenues toward finding results, and everyone forms their own decisions on which is best for themselves.

There is great power in delivering our own message with truth and honesty. There is also great power in detaching from another’s choices and loving them regardless of any disagreement we have with their actions. If we live who we are and share in our knowledge without attachment to the outcome, that is all the influence necessary to empower others to make their own informed choices. Then we can move forward honoring the path we each choose to take.

Action:
The next time that you offer advice to a loved one, notice what attachment you feel to the outcome. Are you invested in their well-being more than they are? Does this sharing result in resistance or argument? Can you recall a time when someone gave you advice that you were not interested in using? Were words such as “what you should do” or “you need to do” in the delivery? Did you dismiss the recommendation or show resistance?

One way to approach giving suggestions when another opportunity arises is to use statements like “What you may consider doing that has worked for me is…” In this way, you offer suggestions with love, showing you care and are also honoring that the decision is theirs to make. Then allow yourself the freedom to detach from their choice, knowing that you offered help with love and grace.

Photo by jurien huggins on Unsplash