Something I think many of us have noticed in life is that it can be human nature to feel concerned about what other people think, from the smallest to the most important of things. Often, we put what other people think, particularly what they think of us, ahead of our own thoughts and feelings.
Recently, I posted about the fact that no matter what we do, we have zero control over the opinions that others hold of us. It’s a waste of time and energy to struggle against this, especially when it comes to close-minded individuals who generally enjoy thinking the worst of others because it often makes them feel better about themselves.
Another negative side of worrying about people’s opinions of us is that we risk missing out on new and possibly special or limited time experiences, either on our own or with our friends and loved ones. We may avoid doing or saying something out of fear of ridicule, disapproval or a desire to ensure that a given perception of us is conveyed.
In my view, we need to live our lives for ourselves. We are given our time on this earth to enjoy the gift of being alive, to grow as individuals, to experience joy, peace and happiness, to form bonds with others (human, animal), to learn to love and accept ourselves, and so on.
So, the next time you want to do something – new or old (and, obviously, legal!) – but your mind fills with questions about what people might think or say, consider pushing through those negative, worried thoughts and replacing them with positivity and enthusiasm. At the end of the day, not doing what matters to you out of fear of what goes on in the minds of others, will quite possibly leave you with regret and disappointment.
Enjoy your life. Do what makes you happy. Follow through on those experiences that feel important and carry them out as though no one is ever watching. Don’t worry about what other people think or say about you. Be yourself. If you’re really struggling, try thinking like a cat; cats don’t appear to care what anyone thinks of them! Trust me – you will reap the rewards from letting go of the negative and focusing on thriving and being happy.
Until next time,
Heather ~Natural Clarity Coaching~ www.naturalclaritycoaching.com na********************@***il.com Natural Clarity Coaching on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter