What To Do When The Whole World Is Against You

Okay, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but it got your attention didn’t it?  I’m talking about that horrible position that we have all found ourselves in at some point in our lives, when we feel strongly and passionately about something, but someone we care about just isn’t on the same page. The issue in question can be something small or large, but the conundrum is a constant.

Here’s an example of something on the small end of the scale: You love blogging, tweeting, social networking etc. You enjoy being constantly connected. But, your significant other/co-workers/friends/family don’t understand. They make (not so subtle) comments about how much time you spend on your computer and/or Blackberry, they knock Twitter without even trying it…you get where I’m going with this.

Now, something more serious: You’re not happy with the current state of your life, and you know you need to make a change. Maybe you start looking for jobs in a different field, decide to go back to school to pursue your passion, or risk it all and start your own business. You might even decide to move somewhere new, push yourself out of your comfort zone, and start fresh (gasp!). Again, your significant other/co-workers/friends/family don’t understand. They think you should be grateful for what you have, they think you’re giving up, you’re young and naive, too much of a risk taker. You have a great life, they would be happy to have a life like yours. They don’t understand why you’re doing what you’re doing, but they don’t try to understand or make any effort to support you.

So, what the heck do you do? Here are some ideas and things to keep in mind:

1. Make sure that whatever you’re doing is what you want to do. Is it something that will make you happier? Improve your quality of life? Keep you sane? If so, move on to step two. If not, you have some serious self-examination to do.
2. Realize that there are some people who will never understand. They are stuck in their ways, steadfast in their opinions, and no matter how hard you try, you won’t change their mind. You can’t please everybody. Accept this and move on.
3. Remember that we only have this one life, so we have to make the most of it. If you’re not happy with your life and you know a way to change that, go for it. What are you waiting for? If you put it off,  your feelings of discontent will just come back again bigger and stronger.
4. Put yourself first. Do not let someone else’s negativity ruin your happiness. Do not become consumed with worry about how other people are going to feel. The truth is, you can’t control their reactions. In fact, there are a lot of things that are beyond our power, which is a tough thing to grasp, but so important to remember.
5. If you keep thinking that you wish someone would understand, try explaining it to them.  It sounds simple, but we’re often too quick to assume and don’t give people a chance.
6. Even if you have embraced change, it may take your loved ones a while to do so. But, this doesn’t mean they never will. This is your life we’re talking about here. You know all of the reasons behind the change, you’re passionate about it.  Unfortunately, that’s not enough for some people, no matter how much they love us. So, give them a chance. Just because they can’t or won’t support you now doesn’t mean they never will. If they truly care about you, they’ll find a way.

If you’re still not sure that it’s possible or worth it to put yourself first, all you have to do is look around the blogosphere. There are so many inspiring people out there who pursue their dreams, run their own businesses, pick up and move across the country, travel the globe experiencing different cultures, and helping people …and I’ve only skimmed the surface.

People aren’t always going to agree with us. But, that’s okay because life would be pretty boring if they did. Believe in yourself, don’t give up, make your happiness a top priority. Even though some people in your life may not support you, there are some who do, so soak up their positive energy to help dispel the negative. Reach out to people with common interests, dreams, or goals. Most importantly, stay true to yourself.

I want to hear from you: What do you do if someone doesn’t understand where you’re coming from? Have you ever been in a tough situation like this?  How did you deal with it? What advice would you have for others? Was it worth it in the end?