Impress Yourself
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

Impress Yourself

We can change our whole lives if only we don't fear the opinions.

51
Impress Yourself
hellobacsi.com

Just a couple of years ago, I was a completely different person. My hair was different, my body was different, my clothing was different, and (maybe most importantly) my eyebrows were different. Going deeper than the physical aspects that have changed about me, I can find ways I’ve changed spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally as well. My faith life looks completely different, I’ve gained so much knowledge I’ve been searching for and have discovered passions of mine, and I’ve gone through the highest of highs and lowest of lows and somehow found my way back to a good spot. I look back and hardly recognize the person I used to be, but I still love her and I love who she’s become.

The most liberating realization I made was that the only person I truly need to impress is myself. Anybody else is just a bonus. This thinking was difficult to come by at first, as about a year ago I was reflecting on where I was going and where I had been and I felt utterly confused. I knew I was changing, and I knew I liked who I was becoming, but the thing that was holding me back from fully leaping and following what I knew I was supposed to do and be was the fear of what other people would think of me. I used to be so worried about other people’s opinions of who I was that they actually made up my own self-image, and I didn’t even realize it at the time. It wasn’t until true struggle and heartbreak that I recognized this and made a conscious decision to identify myself based on who I know I want to be.

Back then, I realized that I had built so much of my perception of who I was and what I did based on other people, some of whom I really didn’t even want to be associated with in the first place, that I didn’t even recognize myself. I knew I had a joyful, carefree, light-heartedly loving spirit and I knew I needed to be able to be fully myself, but I felt stuck in other people’s opinions.

Their opinions told me to be quiet. They told me to not argue when I felt I had been mistreated. They told me to always look as good as possible. They told me to not look that good so that I didn’t stand out. They told me to blend in. They told me to take a back seat and not chase after what I wanted.

The day I decided to throw other people’s opinions away was the day I became my best self. I like to think of change not only has a forward and backward movement but as a side to side one as well. It took a lot of shifting and adjusting and rearranging in order to finally move forward to the way I am today, but I certainly didn’t stay in the same place. I think learning to not only embrace change but to love it with your whole heart is the most essential part of being human. We live in a world where everything is changing constantly. Not only allowing change but reveling in it can lead to the creation of the best change we ever thought possible.

Change, when poisoned with outside opinion, is never able to reach its full potential. If we’re focusing on what others are thinking, we’re giving less attention to cultivating our own thoughts. I found that focusing on my passions and interests and thinking of those things led to the greatest changes I’ve ever had in my life, even though not everyone may see them in the same light that I do. Finally, I’ve learned to be okay with that, and that impresses me a lot.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

21782
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

948750
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

125639
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lots of people sat on the cinema wearing 3D glasses
Pinterest

Ever wonder what your friend meant when they started babbling about you taking their stapler? Or how whenever you ask your friend for a favor they respond with "As You Wish?" Are you looking for new and creative ways to insult your friends?

Well, look no further. Here is a list of 70 of the most quotable movies of all time. Here you will find answers to your questions along with a multitude of other things such as; new insults for your friends, interesting characters, fantastic story lines, and of course quotes to log into your mind for future use.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments