If you're telling yourself you don't care about what other people think of you, I think you're a liar.
See what I did there? Most of the choices we make throughout the day are made with the thought of what other people will think:
When you wake up in the morning and get dressed, you might contemplate if you look acceptable to society. Will they think this is weird?
When you look at yourself in the mirror you might wonder, am I too skinny? Am I too fat? Will people make fun of me?
When you see people talking quietly before bursting out laughing, you may wonder if its about you. Is it my hair? Did I say something weird?
Am I ugly? Am I annoying? What do I look like to people?
I know I am guilty of it all and more - I mean honestly, we all are. However, when you really take a step back and think about it, what a stupid, idiotic, and pointless fear it is. It's irrational, yet each and every one of us suffer from the anxiety. It's a part of being human.
I know you have heard this from your mom a thousand times, but take this literally...there is only one opinion out of the 7.4 billion out there that actually matters, and it's yours. You're the only person you should be trying to please, because it's your life and you only have one chance to live it. Not wearing that shirt because people will think its weird, not eating another burger because people will call you fat, not coming out because of the judgement? What does it matter? Don't wear a disguise to make other people happy. Their opinion literally does nothing. They are not the ones living your life. Chances are, they wont even remember you in a week. Even your family's opinions are inferior to your own. Do what makes you happy. You're the one that has to live with yourself. You're the one who will regret not being yourself when you're old. It's ironic to fight for external approval to have internal happiness.
If you are ignore the pointless opinions of others, you will be happy with yourself. And once you're happy with yourself, you're ten steps ahead of those who judge.
"A truly strong person does not need the approval of others any more than a lion needs the approval of sheep."
- Vernon Howard
"Most fears of rejection rest on the desire for approval from other people. Don't base your self-esteem on their opinions."
- Harvey Mackay
“Remember, you have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.” - Louise L. Hay
