When we are hiding it’s easy to solve other people’s personal problems. We can see their shortcomings, errors in judgment, bad habits, and incompetence from the sidelines.
You see this all of the time with parents in sports events, kids clubs, and activities. Nobody wants to volunteer, and everyone wants to complain.
But we see it in other places too. At work. At home. And at play.
But here’s the thing. No matter how well intentioned you are, you don’t get to define, or blame, or solve other people’s problems.
Nobody wants you to do that for them because even we things are going poorly, we are all doing the best we can.
I have had lots of practice solving other people’s problems because I was hiding for so long. There are often times I “know” what someone’s hang-up is year’s before they do.
I used to think I was helping with unsolicited advice about how they could overcome their hang-ups, solutions to their problems, and better choices they could make.
Even if I was spot on in my assessment I realized they don’t do anything about it until they see the problem themselves, acknowledge it, and explore solutions.
Then I realized I am the same way.
Major change is hard because you have to become a different person in order to sustain it. This goes for health, relationships, finances, and personal growth.
You have to stop hiding and show up in order to make that change. When you’re busy showing up, you see the journey differently, and you get focused on your path and where you’re heading… and begin to lose interest in the shortcomings of others.
You get to observe how their personal problems affect your life. Then decide if you want to engage, partake, or walk away.