LET PEOPLE CHANGE!
We depend on each other to transform. Some of my relationships let me evolve how I conflict. These relationships reflect safe back and forth, trust in sharing, and an eagerness to arrive together. Some relationships cling to remnants of who I was when I responded harshly and hurtfully (potential unresolved harm), which I am still capable of but choose differently as my capacity, nervous system, sense of safety, and environment support and allow.
I witnessed an old friend sit in awe and shock as I navigated conflict with softness and clarity — an expectation for me to pop off, blame, and project rippled in the air — those behaviors never came. Said friend was flabbergasted by this new me — a clear indicator that we can go deeper in supporting each other’s transformation by believing it is possible. When we treat people like they are who they were, we diminish transformation and trigger relapse. I refuse to be boxed. I change relentlessly and in honor of that transformation, I prioritize relationships that hold my endless becoming.
God is change, and to believe in each other’s ability to transformation is holiness.
“I am beautiful. I am loved. I am safe. I am free. I don’t need to be like them. I just need to be like me.” - Jeremy Lee Stone