do we let those around us off the hook?

Question

or do YOU hold the people around you accountable for what they say in life...

ie: if they say, they are going to diet or exercise and they don't - do you kick their a s s bigtime or just say or think "ok who cares that is up to them"? How far do you go in having other people's lives turn out to be great?

Answer 1

I let everyone off the hook

Answer 2

Ultimately, the only person that can help someone is themselves. All the prompting, reminders and a*s kicking won't help (perhaps a few people would respond positively to being berated, but the majority will not).

Using the example you gave (losing weight/exercise), you should take into consideration certain factors. Is there a medical problem caused by the person's weight that diet and exercise would help? Then encouragement and support (& maybe volunteering to cook/share a healthy meal with them or even set up a regular time to take a walk together) are appropriate for that person. Is someone just wanting to lose a few pounds for vanity or to fit into a special outfit, then encouragement should be enough.

I have learned from my own experience (being on both the wanting to lose weight and also wanting others to lose weight) that the final decision (& then ACTION) lies with the person making that wish for themselves.

The best advice I can offer is for you to be a friend to that person and encourage them in any endeavor that is good and positive for them. It is their life to live, as your life is yours to live. No matter how important someone is to you, only they can choose to enact positive changes in their life, (Frustrating as that is!)