I left a conversation this week reflecting on the effects of pursuing goals that might have a perceived negative effect on someone else. Interesting subject. The goal we were discussing is a long held dream. Is the delay of pursuing this goal really based on a fear of upsetting someone else or is it a fear somehow connected to breaking down or achieving that goal? Possibly both.

It’s important that we share our goals with the people around us, especially if it affects them as well. They need to be allowed the chance understand what the goal is and what it means for you.

Not taking action can be as harmful as pursuing the goal, especially if it is really important to you. If the other person senses a frustration or resentment towards them then that is possibly as damaging as sharing your goal and having an open and honest conversation about it.

What’s the answer…I don’t have a the answer but I think I’ll conclude that it is really important to share your goals as you don’t truly know how someone will react until they are given all of the information and allowed to choose for themselves how they want to react. Secondly, I think that if you ultimately decide not to take action in pursuing your goal then you need to let any associated frustration or resentment go. Feel proud of the values you hold. It isn’t easy but changing the focus from a feeling of loss or disappointment to one that celebrates the strength of the values you prioritised over achieving your goal is a positive, admirable thing.

At the end of the day we make our own decisions it’s important we feel proud of the choices we make.