When we learn to understand that the people we love and care about may not always see the world from our perspective, we can respectfully accept their right to make their own choices and decisions. We can then lend our support to the outcome of those choices that they have made.
It is important to be mindful that their “choices and decisions are theirs to be made and not ours”. We often find ourselves tempted to try to steer family and friends towards the decisions we believe are the right ones to follow, often making them feel guilty for not taking our advice. One should always remember that their lives are theirs to control and that our role should generally be one of passive devotee.
If the people we care about ask us for our input, our advice and guidance can prove invaluable, but we must try to be tolerant of the fact that their paths will often run in a different direction to ours and not run parallel to our own. To follow this will not always be easy, because we will want the best for our loved ones but practising this behaviour will ultimately earn the their appreciation and respect by allowing them the freedom to learn and to grow.
Your understanding and broad-minded nature will help you give your loved ones plenty of room to make individualized choices
