Negativity towards dreadlocks
Dreadlocks Journey Emotional Support
You're so right. Truly words of wisdom that have touched my heart. I cannot change the way people are, or external circumstances. The only thing I can change is myself and how I react to others. And I've really tried hard to act with grace and acceptance and to not grow angry (anger and hatred are the greatest poisons) but when it comes to people you love and care about, it gets a little difficult because you expect them to accept you for who you are. But I know it's not really their fault; either by their parents, friends, social media, they have been taught to think of dreadlocks as disgusting and unkempt. And they are coming from a place of caring even if they are not effective at showing it. But you're absolutely right, and years from now this will seem like a very tiny problem thank you so much for taking the time to sooth my troubles.
Noodle-Doo said:
I've had the real dreadlocks one, too. It surprised me so much I didn't know what to say! Didn't understand what they meant at first - did they think it's a wig or something? lol
You can't change other people (except slowly by example), but you can change yourself. You could conform to what they want. Or you can become strong and confident enough that other people's negativity doesn't affect you. Just don't let it get inside you - leave the negativity inside them, and hope that they can become more open in the future. If you're walking around upset and raging about what they said then that's burning you up and damaging you. And it will only attract more negativity back from them. If you can learn to just let it drift past you, like being bumped by something when you're out swimming, then it's not affecting you anymore. Try not to get defensive, it seems to aggravate things. If they say your hair would look pretty some other way, try smiling, give it a loving stroke and say you like it like this. Cheerfulness and good humour seems to work the best. Oh, and try to spend time with positive people, it'll help build up your strength.
It's hardest to take criticism from the people we're closest too, but if you can find a way to cope with that without being emotionally upset by it, then you'll have become a person who can cope with almost anything :o)