Hey there. One of the most freeing things I’ve learned over the years is this. Let people be who they are. That’s it. That one mindset shift has taken so much frustration off my plate. It’s helped me stop trying to mold or fix people, and instead, just see them for who they are right now.
It’s really easy to fall into the habit of thinking, “If they only did this, they’d be better” or “They’d be happier if they just changed that.” But here’s the truth. People only change when they’re ready. And when you think about it, haven’t you experienced that too? Someone might try to push you toward a change, but unless you’re internally ready to make that move, it won’t stick. That same rule applies to everyone else.
This approach gives you the opportunity to appreciate others for who they are in this exact moment. It doesn’t mean you stop caring. It means you stop attaching your expectations to who you think they should be. And I’ll be honest, it’s not easy. Especially when your habits and emotional reactions are so deeply ingrained. But if you can practice this with a little bit of grace and self-awareness, it changes everything.
There have been moments where I’ve caught myself falling back into the old way of thinking. Wanting someone to “get it together” or feeling irritated when things don’t go the way I expected. When that happens, I try to pause and redirect. I remind myself that I don’t have to get everything right. I just have to be aware, reset, and move forward with kindness. That’s the inside-out approach I come back to again and again.
I also touched on something during the podcast that I couldn’t quite remember. There was a recent situation where I had to adjust my plan in the moment. I can’t remember the exact story, but the lesson stuck. Be flexible. Trust the process. Do what you can with what you’ve got. That mindset is more valuable than chasing the perfect path.
If we’re going to be around for a long time, and with the way science is going we just might be, we need to learn how to live well now. Accept your body. Accept your mind. Accept others for where they are. And keep showing up with patience and curiosity.
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