NAYSAYERS – WHAT DO WE DO WITH THEM?
Most people love to offer up their opinion whether you have asked for it or not. More often than not, those offering an opinion are doing so in opposition to you, your idea, or endeavor. There are a multitude of reasons for this, but that’s not what this article is about. This is about YOU. It’s about how you can deal with the inevitable person or people who are your naysayers; those people who DON’T believe in you. YOU believe in YOU and that’s all that matters.
So how do we deal with naysayers? After all, they may be important people in our lives; a trusted coworker, loved one, friend, or even a spouse.
1. Their reality doesn’t need to be your reality. Accept them for who they are and where they are in life. People learn and grow at different speeds. If they aren’t in the same place as you, don’t try to drag them along with you. Let them get there in their own time.
2. Consider their background. Do they have any relevant experience in your area of expertise or with your new endeavor? If they do, were they successful? Why not?
3. Ignore them. Buddha said, “If someone offers you a gift and you decline, the gift is still that person’s.” This is the philosopher’s version of “whatever you say bounces off of me and sticks to you.” We don’t have to accept someone else’s opinion! If we don’t accept it, it still belongs to them.
4. Don’t engage them in discussion. Many times when we engage someone’s opinion we lend credence to it. We put ourselves in a defensive position attempting to affirm to someone who doesn’t see things the same way as you. It’s a much better solution to simply thank them for their opinion and move on.
5. Surround yourself with supporters. Let’s face it, it’s difficult to be an island. Surround yourself with like-minded people who will be supportive and encouraging. Surround yourself with people who will make you better and perhaps even want to form a partnership with you!
6. It’s YOUR vision, YOUR goal, YOUR desire, YOUR reason. It’s about you, not someone else. Protect your goals and dreams. They are yours and yours alone. Just as your wouldn’t let someone take from your bank account, you should never let anyone take from your dreams.
Perhaps Robert Frost said it best “Two roads diverge in the woods. I tool the one lest traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”
Believe in yourself. Decide to Ignore your naysayers. Don’t allow them to change the way you Act!
Click HERE to find out how to achieve your dreams by turning them into goals.
Make the most of your 2015!
Bearj Jehanian is a Maximum Potential Speaker and Trainer. Through a combination of inspiration and online tools, Bearj inspires his audiences to build a foundation of belief, to support a decision to act on any idea and bring it to completion. Believe, Decide, Act. You can find out more about Bearj here.