Why Some People Struggle to Support their Friends

At any given moment you may see me using a product my friend made or wearing something that my friend created. In the picture above, it may look like a new shirt I bought from a store. It's not. My friend made this and I legit want to live in it. It's so comfortable! I’m not tooting my own horn, but I love getting my friends that exposure. I am the campaigner of my group. If they have a desire to create or have an idea, I want to hear about it! Why? Because I want to know what gets their spark going, what makes them passionate.

Often times, passion doesn’t just come through a conversation randomly. It takes some digging and just being able to express a concept to someone until you can put a finger on what you want to serve people with. I support my friends because they have a purpose to what they breathe life into. They have PURE talent!

An interesting phenomenon I stumbled upon recently was starting a new endeavor and being met with raised eyebrows. A few people didn't think it was feasible. What some people fail to focus on is that their experiences will not define your experiences. And yes, it's too early to tell if it will be successful, but I'm going for it. I have already learned more than I knew when I first started my journey.

There is a difference between trying to save someone from going down a path that will destroy their life and simply not believing in them. Obviously, if you are against what they're doing, you shouldn't support them. And explain why not if the situation calls for it. But if they're going after something that will help them evolve, it shouldn't take too much thought to whether or not you want to be in their corner. You should be able to go to people you trust and ask for that support, but it’s not always there.

Maybe you've heard or even used the detrimental words, "I don't think that's going to work." And left it at that. Or "I can't see how this will work. What if you waste so much time and it's all for nothing?" But what if it does work? How will you know if you don't try it?

What I’ve come to realize in my life is, some people TRY to kill your dreams. They project their fears and negativity onto you. Especially if they're at the same level as you, they may not have adequately researched ways to climb their way to the top. They may not be able to follow your path to succeed. Systems such as college are able to be followed by thousands of people because it has been proven to help people be successful. Sometimes people trust systems that they can already see and participate in as opposed to a new idea you bring to the table. Some people even dropped out of college and are successful. So that's proof that there is no one way to achieving success.

Just because someone can't follow that same path doesn't mean that they can't wish you well. The negativity only affects you if you allow it. Some people will not work as hard as you, and so they may dismiss your idea, your drive, just because they've tried the same thing and failed.

If you've been on the receiving end of the resistance: So what if your big idea doesn’t go well? At least you can say you tried it and you don’t have any regrets. Just imagine if you listened to all the naysayers in your life. Do you think you would get this far? I don’t think so. You can go further. That happens by taking calculated risks, weighing the pros and cons, and making your move.

If your friend tries and fails: They don't need someone that's going to say, "I told you so." It's nice to have people there for you regardless if they share your views or not. It's nice knowing that someone cares for your growth and will be there for you for the next steps.

If your friend tells you about something they want to do and you don't understand it, ask questions. Ask them what their plan is and how it will help them excel. You can make a better judgement when they provide all the facts. And if they don't have all the answers, still be there for them and even offer to lend a helping hand if you can.

I know that everyone can‘t be supportive, I get it. But ask yourself one question. Why can’t everyone win? There is room for success for everyone.

So I challenge all of you to take a leap of faith and go for it. What is something you want to try, but are scared to do it? Go and do that. Live with no regrets. You want to be able to look back on your life when you get older and say, "Wow, I tried that. It didn't go as well as I thought it would, but I'm glad that I tried it." You won't be wondering what would've and could've happened because you lived it. And try to be there for someone else who is doing the same thing. You may not understand it at first, but consider it. Give them that chance.

Stay tuned for a part two post to be published next week Lord willing!