Why people hate what they can't understand

As I have talked about in almost all of my previous posts, I have grown so much over the past year and a half. I have done a complete 180 in my personality, my goals, and my morals, and I love it. I love where I am at, I am happy where I am at and with how far that I have come. At the age of 22, I have my whole life ahead of me. A whole life would be a long way to go if you are unhappy with yourself. As I was about a year and a half ago, before I decided to change my ways.

There is a saying that you are who you hangout with. I believe this wholeheartedly. So when I decided to change, I knew a part of that was going to be changing the people that I surrounded myself with. This is much easier said than done. I no longer wanted to surround myself with people who still had not grown out of their ways and continue to walk down the negative path that I had been walking for so many years. Continuing to sit in these people's presence would continue to do nothing but pull me backwards on my journey of growth.

But when cutting negative people out of your life, you have to remember it is not only your own feelings involved, but the other person as well. And their feelings are valid. I think a strong statement to remember in life is that everyone's feelings are valid. You might not agree with them or understand them, but they are valid. In the same way that others don't always understand your feelings, and sometimes we don't even understand our own feelings, they are still valid.

Part of surrounding myself with better people, was moving out of the house that I was currently living in. Knowing the people that I had previously surrounded myself with, I knew this wouldn't go as smoothly as I hoped.This process for me came with judgement, negativity, and name calling as I assumed that it would which is where the title of this blog comes in to play: people hate what they can't understand. Granted, it took me about 21 years to finally get to a place in my life where I wanted to change and wanted to grow. As I mentioned in my previous blog, everyone's timelines are different. Having realized this, I understand that these negative people haven't yet reached the same stage of their lives that I have. Therefore they don't understand it. People hate what they can't understand.

The unfulfilling, empty, lifestyle that we had all engaged in for so many years was enough for them. It was enough to have temporary happiness, continue to make the same mistakes, and live a surface level life. It was no longer enough for me. I wanted more, I wanted to do more, and I wanted to be more. This is what angered them. If someone doesn't have the self confidence, the intelligence, or the positive enlightened thinking that you are beginning to grasp, they won't be able to understand why you so badly crave growth.

Part of my growth process, was not letting these negative, rude, and unwarranted reactions to take me back to my old ways. I had no control over their reactions or the things that would be said, but I had complete control over how I chose to react to their negativity. And I wanted to practice what I preach by showing love, positivity, and turning the other cheek. I pride myself in always trying to replicate who Jesus is. Obviously I will never be able to compare, but I will always be able to try. I chose to not engage in the name calling or the hitting below the belt. Instead I insisted on wishing them the best and continuing to pray for them. Something the old me never would have been mature enough to do.

As you continue to grow and better yourself, people will consistently try to pull you backwards. It will be people you don't know, but it will also be people you do know and have known for many years. It is important to remember that their hate is stemming from jealousy and they simply don't understand why you are insisting on being better. Continue to be better, continue to do better. People will always hate what they can't understand, but you do not have to continue to walk the path that you were on, regardless.

Sincerely,

KU :)