The “they” in the above title are the people who peer into a personal situation and voice an opinion or exert peer pressure. “They” are the crowd that may give you pause before you make a decision or take an action on a personal situation. “They” can be family members, friends, work colleagues, or neighbors. The action can be about a relationship, a place to move to, stay at, or move from, a professional path to take or change, and so on.
Our lives are constructed by standards and traditions. They form our behavior and inform our decisions. Stepping off these paths may be uncommon, and attract attention and scrutiny. Taking that off-road path requires insight and courage, and those on it often find themselves struggling for support of varying kinds; emotional, financial, spiritual, even physical. Think for example of people who chose to divorce or abort a child in communities where such actions are frowned upon or forbidden. Our history is laced with stories of such events. Many of which ended tragically for the protagonist, but ultimately, they changed the course of society.
We have all struggled in situations where our desired outcome was near or beyond what was acceptable to others. In many situations, we do not challenge the forces exerted on us properly. When the solutions at hand do not suffice, proper action needs to be summoned from outside the realm of possibilities. That is when one may find themselves stepping outside the norms of their social circle. The resulting pressure may be overwhelming, and you will be wise to prepare for it beforehand and amass energy and support for the journey through it. In the end, you will arrive at the desired next step of your life, one which you have rightfully earned.
Change is not easy. It can be brutal and bruising, and the sought-after result may not be reached in the end. It is best to prepare for it by seeking guidelines and support from trusted parties; friends and family, mental health professionals and life coaches, lawyers, and police officers. All depending on the situation, the risks, and the intended outcome. “They” will be there ready with their opinion and actions, but you will be ready and equipped for the decision. The most important thing is to not wait for things to get worse or fall out of control. Take action now – you may not get a second chance.