What others think of us and our actions should not determine the path we choose to take.
Many people tend to worry a lot about what others may or may not think. The famous "what will they say" is a common source of anxiety symptoms and obsessive thoughts. And although Being constantly stressed about what others think about your life is hard enough, that's not the most unfortunate outcome.
If you care a lot about what other people think, you will most likely try to please them and make decisions based on what you you think others want. The most regrettable outcome of this situation, then, is repentance.
In fact, the biggest regret of dying people, according to writer Bronnie Ware, is this: I wish I'd had the courage to live the life I wanted and not the one others expected of me.
Writer Morra Aarons-Mele argues that The more we try to gain the approval of others, the more easily we stray from our path and move away from our goals.
In a speech to his Alma Mater, Aarons-Meler declared:
I was trapped in a cycle of achievement, of working hard for other people's dreams or expectations, not my own. Only when I accepted that I needed a quieter life, needed to reframe success on my own terms, and discovered the tools I needed to get there, was I able to find joy in my work. Becoming "less successful" freed me.
It's common for us to do something just because we think it's what we're supposed to do, or to try to please someone else. However, If these attitudes become our routine, if we live to please the expectations of others and want to reach the absolute perfection, We will most likely find a recipe for disaster rather than everyone's approval.
What to do if you worry too much about what others think?
1. Define what success means to you.
It's important to think about what we truly want and the values and feelings we pursue. There are as many definitions of success and well-being as there are people in the world. If you're clear about what you're looking for, it will be easier to find it. This way, what others think, while perhaps influential, won't govern our actions.
2. Follow a guide.
Maybe this article can help you create your own action plan: 10 steps to stop caring about what other people think (now and forever). It is a short article but full of practical and useful information.
3. Reflect.
A touching truth is that People aren't paying as much attention to our mistakes as we tend to think. In This video of The School of Life This point is addressed as a reason not to worry about others. I highly recommend it. Remember to turn on the Spanish subtitles.
In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that if others' opinions of you constantly cause you discomfort, you should seek professional help. Changing this pattern is not easy, but it is possible.
Investing in our mental health and well-being is not only necessary, but also very rewarding.
