“I don’t care what others think about me!”
Raise your hand if you’ve ever said that before.
Pretty much everyone? That’s what I thought.
Now, let’s try it again with a slight variation, and be 100% honest…
Raise your hand if you actually don’t care what others think about you—if the thoughts and opinions of others do not impact your behavior whatsoever.
I can’t actually see you, of course, but I’m willing to bet that your hand is firmly at your side.
Don’t feel bad! After all, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In many cases, what others think about you greatly impacts the choices available to you in life.
If employers think poorly of you, they probably won’t offer you a job, for example.
Fearing what others think about you, however, is entirely different. This is the feeling that kicks in when:
- You have an idea, but you’re scared people will think it’s stupid
- You want to take a chance, but you’re scared of what people will think if you fail
- You want to try something new, but you’re afraid people will think you’re weird
These thoughts of disapproval are powerful enough to make you question your ideas, your direction, and even your purpose.
Deep down, we all know this isn’t a good thing…but is it possible to free ourselves from the fear of what others think?
Yes, it is—and it boils down to three simple realizations that will change your perspective forever.
3 Realizations That Will Help You Crush the Fear of What Others Think
1. Fear of the unknown drives society’s behavior.
Here’s a little secret about that guy who keeps telling you how bad your idea is:
He’s terrified you might actually pull it off.
If you prove that you can get unstuck and design the life of your choice—while he’s been telling himself (and his family) that type of life isn’t possible—what would that say about him?
If you really do pull it off, what excuses will that leave him?
People act out of fear (whether they’re aware of it or not) and will do anything they can to bring you down.
The good news? You are the one who ultimately decides whether they succeed or not.
2. Successful people are classified as “different.”
If you look at people who make their own schedules, travel whenever they want, jump on opportunities, and live without much stress—you’ll see they’re different.
They don’t spend time doing things most people do.
They don’t operate like most people.
They don’t even think like most people.
They do things others often classify as weird or stupid.
Why? Because if you’re doing what everyone else is doing, you’re only contributing to the average.
Extraordinary results are only possible when you dare to venture beyond what most would consider normal.
At some point in their life, every wildly successful person became at least a little bit comfortable with being different—and from that point on—everything changed.
3. “They” don’t understand.
Society is quick to judge.
They’ll tell you you’re wasting your time without knowing the whole story.
They won’t bother to pay attention to your purpose, mission, work ethic, or any other factor that plays a major role in your life.
And even if they did, nothing would change.
Don’t base your actions on the thoughts of people who will never take the time to understand the vision you have for yourself and your family.
They Want to Hold You Back…Don’t Let Them
Society wants you to be just like them—average.
They don’t want to see you succeed, so they try to slow you down with malicious comments.
Don’t let fear of what others think win.
Block out the noise and find wise people you trust for guidance and advice. Their opinions are the only ones that count.
