What other people think about you is not important. I feel we need to hear that more and more these days. Between the media and our peers, there are strong influences that make us feel as though there are standards that we need to meet. And if we don’t…well…we’re looked down upon.
Take a step back. If you don’t meet the standards that people set for you (of which, who gave them the right anyway?) what’s the worst that will happen? People will judge you? Somebody might start a rumor about you? Wow. How terrifying.
These things that we fear, judgement and disapproval, are all subjective. There are people out there that will support your choices and ideas. The people that don’t? Let them have their opinions. If they still stand by you, great. If they don’t…oh well. These falsified judgements and generalizations aren’t true threats to your well-being. We all have core values that create our personality. That’s something that we need to hold close to ourselves. If someone threatens those values simply for the sake of hurting you or benefitting on their own, they don’t deserve your energy.
Remember, at the end of the day, the love you have for yourself is of utmost importance. If some people around you choose not to be a fan of you…the love for yourself should compensate for it. Not to say that you should become egotistical, but that you should be comfortable enough with yourself that other people’s judgements and actions don’t affect your self-image.
“Perfectionism becomes a badge of honor with you playing the part of the suffering hero.”
– David D. Burns
a little latte 