Let them be themselves

​When you condemn others you’re condemning yourself. You’re creating your own prison because the process of condemnation is akin to building a prison cell and locking yourself inside of it. The energy it takes to build it - and the freedom you lose inside of it. What a waste!

But how do we resist condemnation when someone just really infuriates us? This reminded me of one of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received and that is to “let them be themselves”. I can be anxious and want the world to go my way, quickly, I don’t want to wait around for you to tinker, much less for you to figure out the right thing to do. So when others aren’t responding at my speed I start feeling anxiety. For some people this might make them feel anger or frustration but for me it’s just good old fashioned anxiety.

I was having a moment like this a couple of years ago and this was a friends advice… let them be themselves. Give people time to be themselves. I have repeated this to myself no less than 10,000 times in the last couple of years when I want what I want and I want it right now.

It reminds me to take a step back and chill out. Do my own thing. Take care of my side of the street. When the other person is ready they will be ready - or they won’t be - but either way I will have saved my own energy and kept my own freedom by abandoning the act of condemnation ❤️ #workinprogress