That’s a big one. Really big.

Really really really big.

First of all, let’s be clear about one thing: You’re worried about what someone else thinks of you, right? OK. Now, while you’re doing that, what do you think they are worried about?

Hah. Exactly.

They’re worried about what you think of them. But you’re so busy worrying about what they think of you that you’re not even spending much time thinking about them. (You follow that? ;)

To be honest, whether or not that’s true all the time is irrelevant (although I do think it’s true most of the time). In any case, if you’re going to live your life dependent on the good opinion of others for your happiness then, uh, I’ll put it to you bluntly: You’re screwed.

There’s NO way you can please everyone all the time. Even someone who wins an election by a landslide still had 30 or 40% of the people who disagreed with her.

Further, and I’d say much much much more importantly, by worrying about what other people think of you and working hard to try to please them, you’re losing the essence of who you are—you’re expressing such a small fraction of who you truly are. That’s not cool.

So, quit worrying about what other people think of you. Pretty please.

Thanks Brian. Good subject, and you nailed it. Some more thoughts:

“You wouldn’t worry about what people thought of you, if you knew how seldom they do.” – Anon
“Don’t worry about what the neighbors think, because they don’t.” – Earl Nightingale
“If most people said what was on their mind, they’d be speechless.” – Earl Nightingale
“Someone’s opinion of you does not have to become your reality.” – Les Brown

We did an exercise when I attended the Forum that drove this deeply home for me. They called it the fear exercise. Basically what you outlined, with the emphasis being on how you walk through life afraid of basically everyone, even your closest loved ones. As the group of ~150 attendants slowly got/admitted to themselves the awful truth the sobs began. Soon enough the whole room was in tears. Then we got called to let go of that visualization and breathe for a bit. The next phase was as simple as you put it, “Now, picture those people again and think about what they are seeing in you.” In short order a release of explosive laughter was bouncing off the walls. They were more heavy handed about the whole thing, but still it was terribly effective, and a lesson I will never forget.

I LOVE THIS BIG IDEA!! :)

AWESOME QUOTES BT!!! And TravisE I did the Forum too and your post brought me back to my powerful experience and how I felt so light and free for weeks afterwards!! thanks!

I am inspired even more to live my truth and to be open and authentic with who I am!!!

thank you!! :)