How to Support Someone When You Don't Share Their Vision

Be Supportive.

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Despite how effective you believe it to be, at times your opinion goes only so far, and other times it may go too far. That's why it's important to realize it can't always be about you; sometimes you must stay within your realm. Otherwise, what you say may deter or prevent a person from accomplishing something pertinent in their life. Or equally as devastating, they may no longer remain an important part of yours.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Restraint
Understanding
A Desire to be Supportive

Step 1

Don't be a dream crusher.
It is an easy thing to criticize or discourage some pipe dream or unrealistic endeavor your loved one is planning to undertake.
Even the person who coined the phrase "pipe dream" might have had hopes to one day have it incorporated in mainstream conversations and publications. A dream may have come to fruition some 200 years later, in the previous sentence.
Step 2

Do the hard thing.
Judging someone takes less effort than supporting them wholeheartedly.
Supporting someone in an endeavor which makes no sense to you is a difficult feat.
Step 3

One life to live.
Make a conscious effort to remember that it is not your life to live. Although you may be directly affected by their life choice, you must remember it is their life and their choices to be made.
If your life has been affected to its detriment, then you too must make some choices.
Step 4

Flaw-less.
Everyone has their limits. Pointing out someone's limits you find apparent might place limitations on how much further your relationship will go with them. Unless you can take it as much as you dish it, let them make their own revelations of self-awareness.
Step 5

Sensitive Shmensitive!
Not every one is equipped to take constructive criticism. If the one you are critiquing is sensitive, constructive turns quickly to destructive. So choose your words wisely or else choose to omit what may come across as hurtful.
Step 6

Give'em what they need.
If a loved one requires your input, give it respectfully.
If a loved one requests your assistance, provide it warmly.
If a loved one desires your support, bestow it with care.
Step 7

Back them up.
If that certain something your loved one pursues does no harm, then why not give your support? What will you lose for showing your support? Certainly a lot less than what you could gain.
Step 8

You were right.
No one benefits from rubbing it in. Be above the "I told you so's". Otherwise you may not get another chance at voicing your opinion to that person.
Step 9

You could be wrong.
Sometimes words of encouragement are all it takes for someone to feel comfortable with being who they were meant to be. Mustering up kind words could lead to a spectacular outcome.
Step 10

No one says you have to like it.
When someone needs your guidance, be there to give it. When they need your support and only that, support them even if you don't share their vision.
Step 11

Control this.
Having the desire to control everyone and everything around you will be put to the test. For a real thrill, control your urge to dominate what is not yours to contain.
Step 12

Free will.
Having the ability to choose your mate, educational avenues, career paths and the less remarkable other steps that comprise your life journey, is a tremendous gift. So why not encourage a loved one to embrace a dream and pursue whatever it is they desire? You don't need to agree with them or even share their vision, just support them when they need it and maybe one day they'll return the favor.