How I let go of control and fear in my closest relationships
*** This article was originally published as an email sent in early 2016. If you want fresh content delivered right to your inbox, >> join! <<
My most recent “aha” moment went something like this:
Stop trying to control everyone.
I’m going to be candid here for a minute; I’m more controlling than I care to admit.
I have high expectations for myself and others, and am passionate about what I believe in. I’m so thankful I was created this way. What I’m learning though, is that I can’t impose my idea of the good life onto those who don’t want what I want. I’ve spent so long trying to manipulate my husband, my family, my friends into people who value what I value. Trying to talk them, motivate them, encourage them, love them into my idea of their highest potential.
What I thought I was doing from love for a long time, I now realize is setting everyone up for failure, disappointment, and frustration.
You cannot talk people into seeing things the way you see them.
You can only live aligned to your values, define your own priorities, and live in integrity with what you know to be true, for you. That’s what living authentic means. If you find yourself perpetually frustrated with others, always let down, or are always trying to help people achieve their highest potential, I want to be frank: Stop and look in the mirror.
There’s an old biblical saying I learned in college that I can’t shake:
“you must first take the log out of your own eye, then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your friend’s eye.”
The passage continues by discussing throwing away advice and wisdom to those who don’t want to hear it. What I take from that piece of wisdom is that you must confront your motive for wanting to help others, especially those who don’t want to be helped.
When I looked in the mirror of my expectations and desire for others to reach their full potential, I saw a lot of fear.
Fear my marriage would fail.
Fear I wouldn’t lead a life I loved.
Fear my family would never be who I needed them to be.
Fear that if people didn’t see things the way I saw them, I would spend my life proving myself. (aka a lack of comfort-ability with myself and my truth).
What if the solution is simply looking in the mirror, dealing with our own logs, and walking the path that made for us?
What if the right people would find us on our path if we let go of dragging people along with us?
What if we loved people exactly as they are (with boundaries in place) and allowed them to be themselves?
“Consider how hard it is to change yourself and you’ll understand what little chance you have in trying to change others."
-Anonymous
When you discover where you begin, you also learn where you end. In fact, I talk about the 10 liberating lessons I’ve learned about taking personal responsibility here on this post
Let go of the need to fix others and find the fear shift to love.
xx,
-Madison
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