Do you worry about what others think or say about you?
This is something I have concerned myself with my entire life. And what have I gained from living this way? Absolutely nothing - except maybe more grey hairs. Looking deep within, I wonder, why do I care so greatly, why must everyone like me, why do I crave validation and approval? Through this journey of self-realization, I have come to love myself, appreciate my gifts and accept myself for who and what I am.
So why still then do others opinions haunt me? Growing up, my parents always said I was the sensitive one in the family and oh so self-conscious. But again, I have to stop and ask, what have these worries brought to my life? By chasing the approval of others my own judgement has been clouded. It would seem I have not thought enough of myself to trust that I am enough.
Audrey Hepburn said, "It is none of my business what others think of me." These are great words to live by.
By always worrying about what others think,we negate our own opinion of ourselves. We are each born with a beautiful inner light that shines like no other. So why should we expect all of our thoughts, opinions or physicality to match others. You are an original, so be original. If others don't like or approve of you or your opinions, just like on the Facebook network, they may stop following you. By following the crowd, we will eventually snuff out that light. Let your light shine, so brightly that the whole world can see it and know that it is YOU!!!
If we are always concerned with the approval of others, we might just miss the opportunity to achieve what is our destiny. By constantly looking around and behind us for approval, we just might miss our chosen path.
My father used to say, "You can please some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time." This seems like a muddle of words, but really stop and think about them. You absolutely cannot please everyone all the time, so why do we continue to try.
Listening to what others say and tuning out that little voice inside you that tells you they are wrong puts you into a position of self-deception and of not being honest with yourself. You are slowly killing who you truly are, you are killing your very soul.
Abraham Maslow defines self actualization as "being independent of the good opinion of others." There is nothing wrong in listening to the opinion of others, but exercise your freedom of choice and consciously choose to adopt them or disregard them. Remember, the choice is always yours how you react.
So come along with me on this journey of self actualization. Let us be independent of the good opinion of others and let us choose to live according to our own standards and let our beautiful light shine.
