How to Handle Haters

One of the most painful experiences in life is moving toward a goal or dream, only to face those whom you love most rejecting your ideas and even you. If your decisions about a career move, relocation, lifestyle or relationship mean your loved ones refuse to support you, even threaten to leave your life, the road ahead of you is long. Your relationship might require extra care and patience. Or you might require a long time to heal from the loss of that relationship. If this sounds familiar, here are some steps to consider: 

1. Listen.

It is hard not to take rejection of your ideas personally, especially those that you are most passionate about. Listen to your loved ones’ reasoning. Key into the parts about how much they love you and worry about you. Perhaps you will hear in their message fear of losing you, their own insecurity or their own regrets about risks they did not take.

One of the most painful experiences in life is moving toward a goal or dream, only to face those whom you love most rejecting your ideas and even you.

2. Be patient.

They might come around. A fracture in the relationship can, and often does, heal. Perhaps you will eventually change your course, or they will change theirs, and life will reconnect you in unexpected ways.

3. Accept.

Change and growth require letting go of relationships, habits and practices that no longer serve you. Sometimes that means loving connections leave your life or are minimized. It is painful and necessary.

4. Never compromise.

Never compromise yourself for the approval of those who want you to be smaller than you are. Godspeed.