People often find their thoughts and behaviours being affected by the decisions of others, particularly, if the ones closest to them are making choices that they believe are not in their best interests. 

Our thoughts begin to revolve around them and overwhelm us, as we allow worry to take over. Our lives become a bit of a blur, as the worry continues to grow.

Relationship experts, Stacey and Paul Martino, tell us that when we focus on wanting others to change, we put ourselves in a ‘victim position.’ We are controlled by their choices and start to act like a puppet on a string, yanked around by everything they do. 

We need to ‘detach’ from the expectations we put on others and cut the strings that keep us under the control of their choices.

God wants us to live happy and healthy lives, emotionally, physically and spiritually. 

As we transfer our expectations from our loved ones and place our hopes and desires for them on the shoulders of our Father God, we will be able to focus on our own well-being and happiness.  

In turn, this allows us to create a healthy relationship with those closest to us, as they sense there are no longer strings attached to our relationship.

One Bible verse has helped me so much over the years as I have dealt with this issue in my life:

“My soul wait silently for God, alone, for my expectation is from him.” – Psalm 62:5

Detaching ourselves from the expectations we put on others and expecting God to fulfill His plans for our loved ones, gives us permission to pursue happy, wholesome and fulfilled lives.