6 Ways to Deal with Naysayers and Crush Your Goals

Taking a leap of faith for yourself is an already daunting and challenging path. Naysayers or Negative Nancy only make the journey that much more difficult. You do not need their pessimism, nor do you have to deal with it. There are several ways to deal with these individuals so you can move past them and crush your goals.

1. Distance Yourself from the Negative
   If possible, put space between those individuals and your goals. Continually listening to doubt will eventually manifest into challenging yourself. If you cannot distance yourself from a naysayer, have an honest conversation with them. Explain that you don’t have to have their support, but their discouragement is not welcome. Be polite but firm.
2. Bolster Yourself with Support
   Once you have pushed away the negative, bring in the support. Surrounding yourself with people who believe in your goals will allow you to be yourself and unapologetically go after what you want. The support you receive from others will act as reassurance on the path you are taking, and they will help pick you up when times are tough.
3. No Justification Necessary
   You do not have to justify yourself, your goals, or the path you are taking to anyone. Everyone is different, no two people live identical lives or achieve their goals in the same ways. If someone questions you, simply say, “This is what I choose.”
4. Don’t Share
   If you know someone you will need to be around and think you are crazy for going after your goal in a big way, don’t give them ammunition. Avoid talking about your plans around them. If they try to bring it up, take the conversation in another direction.
5. Turn Doubt into Motivation
   If someone doubts you, use their doubt as motivation. Maybe that means making a wager or promising yourself that you’ll prove him or her wrong. Either way, do not let the uncertainty of others weigh you down. Most likely, what they think really doesn’t matter.
6. Embrace Solitude and Reflection
   Keeping up the hustle to achieve your goals can be a lonely path sometimes. Give yourself downtime to reflect on your goals, and how far you have come, and reevaluate your plan of action. This quiet time will also fill your cup and let new ideas and motivation form.

Naysayers are everywhere in life. They are in your family, at work, and maybe even in your friend group. This does not mean that you need to spend your life working within the parameters of their beliefs. Naysayers usually hinder us from having a grateful and positive heart and mind. That is why overcoming their negativity is such freedom. You can move beyond their negativity and crush your goals with relentless willpower.