Spiritual growth can change what you value and how you spend your time. Sometimes this means old friendships or family relationships start to feel different. That can be painful.
Grief is natural
It’s normal to grieve relationships that have changed, even if you’ve grown in positive ways.
No one is wrong
Growing in different directions doesn’t make you better or others worse. People simply change.
Some bonds can stretch
Many relationships can adapt. Shared history, love and respect can hold people together despite different beliefs.
Kindness at the table you share
You don’t have to agree on everything to enjoy a meal or a conversation. Focus on what you share.
You can step back from harm
If a relationship is harmful, it’s okay to create distance.
New connections
You may meet new people who share your interests. Old and new friendships can both have a place.
If grief stays heavy for a long while, please reach out for support; you don’t have to carry it alone.
How little is enough
Send a kind message to one person you’ve drifted from, if it feels right.
For more, read Awakening shock: moving through the unsettled early days.
If writing helps you make sense of change, there’s a short guided journal waiting on the Guides page.