Handling Criticism and Resistance from Others

You can be standing in your truth, finally choosing yourself, finally walking the path you were called to—and still, someone will disapprove.
They’ll question your choices, misunderstand your motives, or try to pull you back into who you used to be. Sometimes, it’s not a stranger’s criticism that cuts deepest—it’s the silence, sarcasm, or disapproval from the people you love most.

We talk so much about fighting the battles inside us, but what about the ones that come from outside—from those who don’t yet understand our journey?

When you start changing, people around you often feel uncomfortable.
Your growth shines a light on their fear of staying the same.
Your boundaries reveal where theirs don’t exist.
Your peace threatens the chaos they’ve grown used to.

Criticism and resistance from others can shake you if you’re not grounded. It can make you second-guess your calling or question if you’re being “too much.” It can even tempt you to shrink back into old patterns just to keep the peace.

But here’s the truth: growth always disrupts comfort. Not just yours—theirs too.

Here’s what I’ve learned the hard way: not everyone will clap for your healing.
And that’s okay. You didn’t begin this journey for applause—you began it for peace, purpose, and freedom.

When people resist your change, it’s often because they’ve built their comfort around your old self. You were predictable. You were manageable. Now, your strength introduces uncertainty—and uncertainty makes people uncomfortable.

The moment you realize their reactions say more about them than they do about you—you stop taking it personally. You stop apologizing for evolving. You stop fighting battles that don’t belong to you.

Here’s how to stand strong when others push back against your growth:

1. Remember your “why.”
Criticism can be loud, but your “why” must be louder.
Write it down. Speak it daily. When doubt creeps in, remind yourself why you started this journey in the first place.

2. Don’t over-explain your growth.
You don’t owe everyone a full emotional presentation of your evolution. Growth is felt, not proven. The people meant for you will notice without you having to justify it.

3. Set emotional boundaries.
It’s okay to say, “I love you, but I can’t have this conversation right now.” Protect your peace like it’s oxygen—because it is.

4. Reframe criticism as confirmation.
Every time someone resists your growth, take it as proof that you’re breaking cycles. You’re changing patterns that have existed for generations. That’s not small work—it’s sacred work.

5. Find your support circle.
You need people who speak the same language of courage. Whether it’s a mentor, a friend, or a faith-based community, surround yourself with those who fuel your fire, not those who dampen it.

There was a time when I thought peace meant everyone had to be okay with me. I thought harmony meant never disappointing anyone.
When I began to speak up and honor my boundaries, the backlash surprised me. It came from the people I least expected. I wanted understanding—but what I got was distance.

And it hurt.
But that space became sacred. In that silence, I found strength. I realized that sometimes love means letting go of needing approval. It means trusting that being misunderstood today doesn’t erase your truth tomorrow.

Over time, I stopped explaining myself. I let my actions speak. And eventually, even those who resisted started to see the peace I’d built—and some even wanted to find it for themselves.

You are not wrong for growing. You are not selfish for protecting your peace.
Every hero faces resistance—it’s how we learn what we truly stand for.

Let them question. Let them misunderstand. Let them stay where they are if they choose.
But you—keep walking. Keep fighting for your truth, for your healing, for the life that calls you higher.

Strength isn’t about being unaffected—it’s about standing tall even when the wind howls against you.
This is your training ground. This is where strength is forged.

Next Steps:
Use the Resilience Building Guide to help you stay grounded when criticism arises.
Read next: Building Mental Toughness Through Adversity
Journal Prompt: Who has challenged your growth—and what truth will you stand in regardless?