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Taking a step of faith or making a courageous decision for yourself can be a difficult and intimidating journey.
The negative Nancy’s in your life only make the journey that much more challenging and difficult. These are the individuals who instantly dismiss all of your ideas and put you down.
You do not need their pessimism, nor do you have to deal with it. There are several ways to deal with these individuals so you can move past them and crush your goals.
#1 Distance Yourself from the Negative
If possible, put as much distance as you can between those people and your goals and objectives. Continually listening to doubt will eventually manifest into challenging yourself. Have an open discussion with a doubter if you find it difficult to detach yourself from them. Let them know that although their support and encouragement is not required, their discouragement is not acceptable. Be polite but firm.
#2 Bolster Yourself with Support
Once you have pushed away the negative, bring in the support. Surrounding yourself with people that believe in your goals will allow you to be yourself and unapologetically go after what you want. The support you receive from others will act as reassurance on the path you are taking, and they will help pick you up when times are tough.
#3 No Justification Necessary
You do not have to justify yourself, your goals, or the path you are taking to anyone. Everyone is different, no two people live identical lives or achieve their goals in the same ways. If someone questions you, simply say, “This is what I choose.”
#4 Don’t Share
If you know someone you will need to be around think you are crazy for going after your goal in a big way, don’t give them ammunition. Avoid talking about your plans around them. Take the conversation in a different direction and talk about a different topic if they try to bring it up
#5 Turn Doubt into Motivation
When someone doubts you, take it as inspiration and use their doubt as motivation. Maybe that means making a wager or promising yourself that you’ll prove him or her wrong. In either case, resist letting other people’s negativity drag you down. Most likely, it doesn’t really matter what they think anyway.
#6 Embrace Solitude and Reflection
Maintaining your effort to reach your goals can occasionally feel lonely Allow yourself some quiet time to consider your objectives, your progress, and perhaps if you need to re-evaluate your action plan. This quiet time alone will also fill you up and allow for the emergence of fresh inspiration and thoughts and ideas.
Naysayers are everywhere in life. They are in your family, at work, and maybe even within your group of friends. You do not have to spend the rest of your life adhering to their ideas however. With persistent willpower, you can rise above their negativity and achieve all of your aspirations and dreams.