5 reasons why those closest to us often don’t support our spiritual work or creative endeavours

When we begin walking the path of spiritual growth or creative expression, it can be surprising and sometimes heartbreaking to discover that the resistance we face doesn’t always come from strangers, critics, or “the outside world.” Often, the pushback, doubt, or lack of encouragement comes from those closest to us. It’s our family, partners, long-time friends, or people we’ve loved and trusted for years. Why? The reasons have many layers, deeply human, and it’s not always about us, but it sure can feel deeply personal.

Let me share with you some of the possible reasons why we experience this.

Your growth disrupts their comfort zone.

Spiritual work and creative endeavours require us to stretch beyond the familiar, to step into uncertainty and vulnerability. When you change, it naturally disrupts the dynamics of relationships that were built around a previous version of you. They will only see the changes as a problem and not a positive opportunity. You begin speaking differently, prioritizing differently, and seeing the world with new eyes. Those closest to you may feel they’re “losing” the person they once knew. Possibly feeling threatened by the changes.

In More Than Existing, I teach that growth is not about abandoning who you were, it’s about embodying the truth of who you are. But for those around you, that truth can feel like a loss or a challenge to their own unexamined beliefs.

They see you through old lenses.

People who have known you a long time often hold onto an outdated version of you. The one shaped by shared memories, old patterns, or even past mistakes. They may not recognize the inner work you’ve done. They might not believe that your transformation is “real” or “sustainable.”

It can be hard for them to reconcile the person they once knew with the empowered, visionary, or spiritually grounded version standing before them. In a sense, they are relating to your past self rather than your present truth.

Your courage highlights their avoidance.

This one is a big one, especially if you had been conditioned as the saying goes, to sweep everything under the rug.

When you step into spiritual/transformational work or follow a creative calling, you begin facing your shadow, embracing healing, and taking risks in service of something bigger than fear. This can unconsciously trigger discomfort in others, especially if they’ve avoided their own inner work. Your courage can be a mirror, reflecting the parts of themselves they’re not ready to face. But remember this doesn’t make you better than another or entitle you to push your views onto others. You are to integrate the shadow not grow it!

In self-actualization, there’s an unavoidable truth, our light will always cast a shadow. Some will celebrate your light; others will feel exposed by it.

Support requires vision and vision requires belief.

This is a big one! To cheer you on, someone has to believe in the possibility of what you’re creating, even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed. Not everyone is wired to see beyond the tangible or logical. Trust me in this one, it’s not easy to not be triggered by the obvious disbelief facial expressions. Creative endeavours are often uncertain, non-linear, and deeply personal, you have to believe in you enough that it leaves no space for doubt. Spiritual work can be misunderstood or dismissed if it doesn’t fit within someone’s worldview.

Sadly for some, it’s easier to withhold support than to invest in something they can’t fully grasp.

Love doesn’t always equal understanding.

This one is sensitive and tender. People can love you deeply yet still not understand the importance of your spiritual or creative path. They may fear you’ll get hurt, fail, or face criticism. In trying to “protect” you, they may unintentionally undermine or discourage you.

Understanding that their lack of support is often rooted in their own fear, not a lack of love, can help you navigate this without closing your heart.

Walking the Path led to creating 44 weeks of pillars to building a strong emotional, physical and spiritual personal foundation.

One of the pillars of More Than Existing is reclaiming your life from the limitations of others’ perceptions. Self-realization means you stop waiting for external validation before living your truth.

It’s not easy. There are moments when walking your path will feel like walking alone. But here’s the beautiful thing: as you stay committed to your work, spiritual or creative, you begin attracting a new circle. Remember you can have more than one circle. Weaving your life is the ability to not limit your life to only those who mirror you. Rejecting those without all the same views or those who kindly question, may possibly be creating the comfort and have you becoming a reflection of the judgement and criticism you didn’t want done to you. Radical self-acceptance and emotional maturity allows you to exist outside the comforts you create. You discover people who see you, those who understand the courage it takes. People who celebrate your unfolding without needing to control it.

This is what I leaned on my healing journey to becoming a spiritual leader.

Release the need for everyone to understand.
Stop dimming your light to keep others comfortable.
Remember that you are not here to be everyone’s version of you. You are here to be the truth of you and you will have to be okay with not being liked or accepted by everyone. The roots of the pleaser runs deep for some! Because when you choose to be more than existing, you choose to walk toward the life that was always meant for you, even if not everyone comes with you. Leave people where they are and you work on the frustrations behind the desire for everyone to listen to you, to understand you and mostly to evolve with you.
You will never be happy living someone else’s life. Period!

This is why my first books are not “How to” books. They are my journey of navigating through the experiences. Having written my stories and shared the raw imperfections had been a vulnerable experience. At that time I was not where I am today. I had not yet reached this level of spiritual confidence and self-acceptance and assurance. It was the journey through accountability and responsibility. It’s your responsibility to celebrate, to hold your joy, and you are accountable for your own emotions and not anyone else’s. I may have questioned sharing the stories or the experience but not the program I created. I can say with a confidence I create a very powerful transformational, healing, self-actualization, self-realization program which has been perfectly transformed into more than I could have imagined.

Allow me to share the link for my More Than Existing book with you and keep watching for the upcoming start date of More Than Existing. by joining my email list.

Much Love,

Corrie Thorne-Cameron

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