How do you feel when the people around you begin to change?

Do you resent them?

Do you wish they stayed the same?

Dealing with any sort of change can be challenging, but when people around you, especially those that you’re close to, begin to change, it can feel even more daunting.

I know that you know change is a normal part of life. But it can affect how you experience your personal relationships when those close to change. When a person you’ve known for a while adopts a new behavior or behaves differently towards you, it destabilizes that part of your life. And this uncertainty can cause you to feel anger and resentment towards them. But you must realize that their change is not about you. It’s about them.

Let’s, for a moment, switch the shoe to the other foot.

How would you want or expect a person close to you to deal with a change you made in your life? Especially if you knew the change was good for you.

Would you want them to accept you for who you are or resent you for changing?

I believe you’d want them to extend the courtesy of allowing you to be who you are – as long your change doesn’t infringe on their freedom of being who they are.

Navigating shifts in relationships is never easy, and, at times, you must ask yourself what you’re looking for from both family and friends. Introspecting on your relationships might help you realize that people will be with you for different reasons and seasons. And that change is inevitable.

So, the next time you find yourself annoyed because a person close to you has changed, give them space. If their changing doesn’t harm you, then you can decide if you can accept them as they are. Hopefully, you will, and as you do, you might find that the next time you change, they’ll do the same for you.

P.S. Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed it, please share it with one person you love.