How to motivate without pushing too hard?

[vegggeeemom]

I want to motivate people to either try raw or get back on raw and have found that if I push too hard they don't want to see me! LOL
So, what is the right amount of encouraging? Or should I just do it by example? Is that the best way to get someone back to raw that once was on raw and doing well?

Thanks

Pam

[Purl]

I think you should just be your rawself and quietly lead by example. Let your life and your health speak for itself. If someone asks, then yes share with them. I know a few years ago a woman HOUNDED me about putting my twins on the gluten free diet and I just did not have an extra ounce of strength to try something new. Now, 4 years later, when a few of the stressors have resolved themselves-I am able to learn about raw and gluten-free, etc. I just couldn't before and I eventually stopped talking to the woman altogether because of the tremendous pressure I felt. She was trying to help, but all she did was pile more guilt and stress on an already bad situation at that time. I may have come around sooner, had she respected my limitations. Just my 2 cents.... :o

[vegggeeemom]

Purl,

Thank you so much for your point of view! I know that leading by example has really brought my mom around to doing high raw and I'm hoping that she will get back to all raw soon.
I'd like to motivate a few others, but will do so by example and my progress hopefully will speak volumes!
I'd hate to think that something I said or did would push anyone away from me.
So, I appreciate you saying what you said!

Pam

[mommamia]

I so agree w/Purl. Lead by example. My family knows how my energy has always been very very low. So is my moms. I have depression, so does my brother. I know that I can be enthusiastic w/out having them feel pressured so I just told them how great I feel and how much energy I have. They are amazed and are really upping their raw intake.

On the other hand, I have several friends and acquaintences that I really want to know about this, but I know I have to go very slow. I just keep telling them how great I feel. Hopefully, if they ever want to explore this lifestyle I will be someone they will think to talk to and get encouragement from. I find that instead of telling people what to do I just say: "Well, would you like to hear what works for me?"

[rawpriestess]

When I was 24, I quit smoking, 10 years ago I gave up meat, I never went back, but I did do one thing, I regret, and that is to think that because something was working really well for me, that I needed to share it with others, especially ones who I knew really needed to hear about my lifestyle changes.

What I should have realized, was that it was the perfect time and place for ME, not necessarily for them.

If someone asked, then I could share, but just like when I was first going raw, and a friend of mine was going on the Atkins program, I KNEW MY RAW WOULD WORK, AND HER ATKINS WOULDN'T.

well, SHE KNEW HER ATKINS WOULD WORK, AND MY RAW WOULDN'T.

It's not about a competition, it's about doing what works for you, and if others are curious, then you can show them your enthusiasm.

What I have found out about myeself, as I am on the raw path, is that my friends, have all fallen by the wayside, and I have all new friends now.

Not all of them raw, but they are all so very more accepting of me, because they never knew me as a smoking, or meat eating person.

I think that life goes on, friends come and go, lovers may too, but the only thing that is constant is change, especially in ourselves.

Many blessings,
Raw Priestess

[vegggeeemom]

I think that life goes on, friends come and go, lovers may too, but the only thing that is constant is change, especially in ourselves.
Many blessings,
Raw Priestess

RP,

You are SO right here! It is true that friends come and go or it's a friendship cycle. I read this somewhere and now can't remember what it was, but it was something about the friendship cycle! LOL Ugh, I wish I could remember even part of what it said as it has been exactly how friends have been in my life.

Not a bad thing at all, just our busy life and the way our life styles change it seems friends are close then distant, then they seem to either come back around again and are close again or we never hear from them again. Something like that anyhow.

Everything you said in your post is true. I can't tell someone what to do in regards to their health, eating habits, or lifestyle, it's all got to be on their own doing.

I think sometimes I say it's my excitment about something that I'm doing that gets me in trouble. But, if I were to be truthful, it's that I can be very pushy with certain people that I feel comfortable with and that turns them off.

Thank you everyone who replied to this thread! Definitely want to lead more by example then by pulling them by the reigns!

I learn so much from these boards and I'm so glad each time I put myself out there and make myself look dumb or at least open myself up to be vulnerable. I always learn something when I do that!!

Thanks so much!

Pam