Want change?
Have you ever wished/prayed/exorted/ pleaded for someone to change? “If only he would get a job..if only she would start exercising…if only they would let me help them cnange.”
After all, we only want them to change or realize their potential because we think they will be happier, more productive and achieve greater fulfillment, right? We just want the best for them, don’t we? And we just happen to think we know what the best should be. They need our help, don’t they?
If we see someone about to be hit by a car, we should probably intervene. Seems like the right thing to do, doesn’t it?
But what if they want to
- keep smoking,
- eat unhealthy, fattening foods or
- stay in a relationship that’s going nowhere?
What business is it of ours?
What if instead of judging, “helping,” worrying about them, we really just love them as they are, no changes needed?
Folks don’t want to hear a sermon. (Especially our loved ones!) So what if we stopped preaching/nagging/ reminding/bugging our loved ones and friends about how they should change?
What if in addition to just loving them, what if we were willing to just be a great example?
Could we just work on (play with?) being less judgmental, and being more loving, more kind, more thoughtful? And wouldn’t we all be happier?
Just a reminder to myself! (and maybe you too?)