"The less you care, the happier you will be." Caring makes us vulnerable… or so we think. We fear that opening up and showing people our passions will make us seem too excitable, too eager, too confident. Since when did being described as these words become a bad thing? We worry about coming off too strong, so instead we smooth over our edges, dull our personalities, and hide our individuality. We act like nothing bothers us. We pretend that everything is fine. We play it cool.
Even the words "I don't care" are extremely misleading. In reality, "I don't care" translates to us basically screaming "I care very much! I care a lot actually!!!" So why don't we just say that? Why do we feel like we have to always appear easygoing? The idea that the only way to get through difficult situations, or crossroads in our lives is to care less just doesn't make sense.
The problem with playing it cool is that it gets you nowhere. Trying to please everyone by always remaining composed does nothing. The most interesting people to surround yourself with are the ones who aren't afraid to be original. Being engaged with the world around you isn't something to shy away from. If we want something, we shouldn't feel obligated to idly sit by and wait for it to come to us.
Playing it cool has no real winners. Like the name suggests, it's a game. But seeing who can care the least is no trophy to be won. If you want something you should feel comfortable in going after it. Speaking your mind and taking action is the only way to get what you want out of your life. We shouldn't ever feel embarrassed or insecure about voicing our opinions and making ourselves heard. Putting yourself out there is never easy. Letting our guards down leaves us open to getting hurt. But it's better than playing it cool, staying composed, and feeling nothing.
We should all feel like we can say what's on our mind and not have to apologize for it. There is no such thing as caring too much. Caring makes you compassionate, empathetic, and kind. It doesn't make you weak or vulnerable. The less you care, the less you feel. Happiness, to me, means not being afraid to take a chance to seem uncool. Next time you find yourself in a situation where playing it cool seems like the easy thing to do, I hope you take that chance to speak out and express what you're feeling. You might just be surprised at where it gets you.
