How to Stop Trying to Force Others Into Change

Or, do you really think that you can cram that square peg into a round hole?

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

The best of intentions.

If you would just make a good decision.

Can you take my advice this once?

There are lots of good counselors out there!

Statements like these seem to have the purpose of stirring up quick change in a person. They come from the mentality which says the answer to a person’s problems is as simple as doing what has been directed.

If it really worked this way, how awesome would that be? If my friend would just follow my advice, his actions would no longer be a burden to me, I mean him. Oops

Why do people choose to suffer? Ahem…why do we choose to suffer?

To be clear, if my suffering is caused by another person who wants to hurt me, it is not initially of my own choosing. But, life deals junk to us. Stuff happens. And it always will.

Maybe I suffer because:

• I don’t want to face the truth about the situation
• I am tired and don’t have the energy to apply reasoning
• I would rather suffer than…