Standing Your Ground With People You Love

Greetings from sunny Seaside, California! It was chilly and rainy this morning, but even so I felt the warmth of the name. Seaside is so bright and cheerful, isn’t it? Some words are heartwarming no matter what’s happening inside or outside.

Yesterday was even better. I stumbled across the most gorgeous sandy beach in Marina while looking for a place to shoot my video (When You’re Judged by Family & Friends: Standing Your Ground With People You Love). 

That sandy beach was the perfect backdrop for a difficult conversation.

When friends and family make you feel guilty

On my video about rehoming your dog—one of my most popular and painful videos—a reader asked for help coping with friends who guilt and shame her. They can’t understand how she could give up her dog, and they’re not shy about sharing their opinion. 

On my video about rehoming your dog—one of my most popular and painful videos—a reader asked for help coping with friends who guilt and shame her. They can’t understand how she could give up her dog, and they’re not shy about sharing their opinion. 

This was, sadly, perfect timing for me.

Recently I’ve been struggling with guilt that rises from external voices. The bad news is that those external voices have become internal. The good news is that I’m learning ways to live in peace and love even when the shame rises.

Sometimes our friends and family are our strongest allies, and sometimes they’re our harshest critics. This makes it tough to live with faith and courage—unless, of course, we’re aligned with our true nature. And even then it still gets rough.

The key is learning how to stand our ground and stay focused on our inner knowing.

The sun is setting, my friend. Off to the beach I go! 

You may not be watching a sunset on a California beach, but you can close your eyes and picture it. Take a deep breath, centre yourself in warmth and love, and enjoy the gift of your one wild and precious life.

Laurie 

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