Allowing Others to Grow
- Hayley Tharpe
- Apr 30, 2024
- 2 min read
I. Introduction
Growth is beautiful, exciting, and necessary. Growth enables caterpillars to transform into butterflies and allows for law students to become lawyers. Simultaneously, Growth can feel very unfamiliar and uncomfortable, especially when we witness it happening for someone else. Yet, by exercising both patience and humility, we can find the positives in allowing others to Grow.
II. Patience
I have learned two things (of many) in my relationships with other people. First, is the importance of communicating when Growth is necessary. And second, is that communication does not automatically change the circumstances, i.e. Growth takes time! Think about how long it takes for you to change a mindset or to improve a skill. In my coaching sessions, I often tell my clients to, “give yourself grace.”
Likewise, other people are deserving of grace as they go through their own Growth process as well. You are not perfect and neither is anyone else, and it can be easy to forget how difficult it is to change when we aren’t in the other person’s shoes. Therefore, be careful not to project perfectionism or your own timeline onto another person’s journey. Be gracious to your neighbor! Allow them to Grow, and give them the time to Grow.
III. Humility
When we find it positive or necessary for others to Grow, it may be more tolerable because we identify that there is also a reward in it for us. Yet, what happens when someone is Growing in ways that we are not expecting, prepared for, or comfortable with? How would you feel if someone else receives a great opportunity? What if someone no longer depends on you as much? Are you able to handle the spotlight being on someone else? These are all questions that came up in my mind as I began to process how myself and others are impacted when people that we love decide to Grow.
Given that there is generally a lack of control associated with it, as I mentioned above, it often takes a great deal of humility; humility in the sense of knowing that you are not always in control, you are not always correct, and the world does not revolve around you. Ultimately, I have learned to be okay when life decides to humble me. It is a time for listening, observation, and reflection. The beauty is in the takeaways that I get from each experience. Plus, I learned that people often know best for themselves, It feels good to be happy for others as they receive positive outcomes in their life, and I respect that when someone else is in the limelight, it is because they deserve it.
IV. Closing
As we live in relation with others, people may choose to Grow at times or in ways that we are not comfortable with. However, by exercising both patience and humility, their Growth also contributes to our own Growth.
Interested in booking Legally Well? Schedule a complimentary Contact us to get started!
Comments