How To Stay Focused On Your Goals With Unsupportive Relationships And Family

Author: Shiloh Kelly

Your closest friends and family should be your strongest supporters. They should be the individuals that believe in your dreams and goals and offer unconditional support, but that doesn’t always happen.

Friends and family can sometimes be your worst critics, preventing you from reaching your goals. 

It can be heartbreaking when the people you love and respect don’t appear to agree with your decisions.

However, as we’ll see in this article, you can stay focused on your goals without support from your friends or family.

What to do when friends and family don’t support your goals

There are numerous reasons why those closest to you may not support your goals or dreams. For one, they may not genuinely grasp your dreams or goals no matter your relationship with them. 

Another reason could be that they don’t want you to be hurt and are attempting to shield you from difficulty and failure.

Regardless of the cause for their lack of support, here are some things you can do to keep your head up:

• Look for Support Elsewhere

Sometimes we make the mistake of seeking help from people who don’t know or understand what we are trying to do, which often results in a situation where we have no one to support our mission. 

If your friends and family do not understand your ambitions, establish a network of people who can provide the support you require while also understanding your goals. 

Everyone needs a solid support system, especially during significant life transitions.

If you’ve tried repeatedly to communicate your goals to those closest to you but they don’t seem to understand, it might be time to look for support elsewhere.

• Be your No. 1 Fan

No matter how hard you try, many people will still refuse to support your ambitions, which is fine since the truth is that you don’t need their support to move forward.

You may struggle to accomplish your goals if you find yourself in a position where you seek approval from others before pursuing them. So, while it is natural to seek help from friends and family, you should never need it.

It would be beneficial if you tried to be your own fan when you don’t have the support you desire, as this helps protect your energy.

Feeling unsupported for an extended period can be psychologically and emotionally draining, zapping the energy you need to work on attaining your goals.

• Set Boundaries

Boundaries are guidelines that you establish to manage the behavior you expect from others. Because you do not control how others treat you, you can protect yourself by setting boundaries.

To successfully establish clear boundaries, you must first understand why you are creating them and why they are important to you. 

For example, you may need to set boundaries to pursue your goals while still loving your family.

You may feel terrible about establishing these boundaries, particularly with loved ones, so you must first understand why you require them in the first place. Build your boundaries gradually, so you don’t feel overwhelmed.

Takeaway

While it will be good to have the backing of your closest friends and family, achieving your goals without their approval or support is possible. Build a strong network outside your friends and family, handle their lack of support, and set boundaries so you can pursue your dreams without resenting your family for not supporting you.