1. Clarify
Your Own Pathway
Before Sharing It with Others
Before you
share your emotional journey with others, it's crucial to have a clear
understanding of your own motivations, goals, and expected outcomes.
Take the
time to reflect on why this journey is important to you and what you desire to
achieve by embarking on it. What outcome are you seeking and why?
By being confident and grounded in your own
decisions, you can better navigate any potential challenges or resistance from
others.
Recognize that not everyone will immediately understand or support your
choices, and that's okay.
Allow for their differing perspectives without
feeling the need to justify or defend your decisions, or judge them for theirs.
If you cannot accept how others may react or respond, continue doing your own reflection and inner work around taking this journey until you can allow whatever others think and feel to be OK with you.
2. Choose
Your Confidants Wisely
Sharing your
journey with others is a vulnerable act, so it's essential to choose your
confidants wisely.
Start by confiding in those you trust the most and who have
shown themselves to be empathetic and supportive in the past.
Their
initial reactions or responses can provide valuable insights into how others may respond to
your journey. Use their feedback to tailor your approach when sharing with
those who may be less understanding or supportive.
It is also important
to create within yourself a level of stability and groundedness so you can move forward, even in
the face of opposition, criticism, or lack of support. This is ultimately a Journey for YOU, not
anyone else.
If your initial confidants are not as supportive as you need or desire them to be, consider how much of your journey you CAN share with them and still receive a level of support and understanding.
You do NOT have to share your ENTIRE journey with someone, and you might share different parts with different people. This might take setting boundaries with people, or within yourself of what you share and with whom.
3.
Communicate Your
Intentions Clearly
When you're
ready to share your journey with others, be transparent about your intentions
and motivations.
Clearly communicate that you're embarking on a path of
personal growth focused on mastering your emotions. Emphasize that this journey
is about self-love, self-discovery, and self-empowerment.
By framing your journey in this way, you invite understanding and support from
those around you, helping to create a more conducive environment for your
growth.Some may see
this as a “selfish” act, because they are only looking at how the changes you make within yourself with impact them and the relationship they have with you. This reaction comes from fear of change and an upset of the "status quo".
You are making changes which impact them and their vision and perspective of who you are, the role you play in their life, and the future they hoped or dreamed would play out with you.
By being clear that the changes you are making are to benefit you, and honest that it might mean changes to the relationship you have with that person - hopefully for the better - you can set the stage for them to do some self reflection, ask questions, and open themselves up for new possibilities and opportunities of growth for them as well.
Unfortunately, not everyone will be open to this, and will resist and try to keep you from taking this journey.
This is where you groundedness and stability is needed the most.
4. Set
Boundaries and Expectations
As you
progress on your emotional journey, you may find that your behavior and
communication style evolve.
It's important to communicate these changes to your
loved ones and set clear boundaries and expectations for how you wish to be
treated. Let them know that you may need space to process your emotions or that
you may require support in specific ways, and if they are unable to do so, that is OK.
By articulating your needs
openly and honestly, you create a supportive environment that fosters your
emotional well-being. If others cannot give you what you need, it is important to allow them to be where they are at, and not be upset or judgmental that they cannot give you what you need.
Remember,
Boundaries are set to create safety for yourself, not to punish or tell others how
to act.
They are framed from how you
will respond to circumstances, not to change how others behave or create the
circumstances you are responding to. “I
expect we can have an open and productive discussion. If the discussion becomes unproductive, I
will leave the room and we can try again later.”
Rather than, “Don’t blow up at
me because you don’t like what I say.”
Boundaries are what YOU will do or not do, rather that putting restrictions on other people.
5. Be Honest
About Your Needs
Finally, be
honest with your loved ones about the level of support you require from them.
If they are unable to offer the support you need, it's essential to communicate
this openly and without judgment.
Let them know that while you value their
presence in your life, you may need to reduce or temporarily stop communication
with them until you can resume healthy and supportive interactions.
Prioritize
your emotional well-being and surround yourself with those who uplift and
empower you on your journey.
Embarking on
a journey of Emotional Mastery requires courage, vulnerability, and
self-awareness.
By preparing the people in your life for the changes ahead and
setting clear boundaries and expectations, you can cultivate a supportive
network that encourages your growth and transformation.
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Remember
that your journey is yours alone, but having the understanding and support of
loved ones can be helpful.
If they are
unable or unwilling to support you as you need, there are many Adoptee
Communities on Social Media, and Moving Beyond Adoption is growing so I can be
a strong and stable place of support and connection for you too.
In the Next
Blog, We will explore your Next Steps to Begin Your Emotional Mastery Journey!
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