What do you do when you are loving the new you that is emerging with your new shiny life and, well, some of your nearest and dearest, they don't love the new you? In fact they are not supportive of the changes you are making at all. They don't agree. They undermine you. What do you do when you start changing, letting go of the limiting beliefs that have kept you stuck and you start creating a life you love, setting and holding great boundaries over your time and energy -but you don't get the support you expect?
It can go two ways. I see many clients who, once starting to make conscious positive change, are so much happier, healthier, braver, more fulfilled, and their family and friends are thrilled for them. They love the changes. They adore seeing this new happier person they love emerge. They are supportive both practically and emotionally and many end up starting their own process of positive change and development. Seeing those ripple effects spread is a beautiful thing and this is what happens most of the time.
However, even when someone is noticeably happier, stronger, brighter, a few people will find that their loved ones are not on board at all. The woman whose husband has been calling her fat starts to lose the weight and feels better about herself, then finds he starts to undermine the change, pushing her to eat unhealthy food. The mother who sabotages her daughter's weekends away with a string of needy requests to stay. The teenager who won't have an open discussion about an allocation of domestic chores. There can be some subtle, and not so subtle undermining of the changes the client (you!) is so proud of. It seems very unfair, but is it really that surprising?
The thing to know when you meet this kind of resistance is that it's okay. You can handle it. You can stand in your truth and say "You know honey, you go ahead enjoy that triple cheeseburger, I'm going to skip it and eat more healthy later". We can still choose the new us.
These undermining attacks happen because even though you were unhappy with the old you, the other person in question was totally happy with the old you. The way the old you operated suited them just fine. The fat old you meant they didn't have to look at their own weight issue, or they felt secure around you in a social setting, not when you are attracting the admiring eye of the opposite sex. Or they like you living at home, being single as you are their constant companion and diversion from the fact their own social life could do with some work. Or they love the fact that you pick up all the laundry and the groceries and the cooking. All that stuff is working really well...for them! Why change a good thing! So, whether conscious or subconscious, they have a vested interest in perpetuating the status quo. They don't want to go to the gym. Or get out and meet new people. Or do housework. They want you to stay as you are. For things to stay as they are.
