Member-only story
How to Stop Caring What Other People Think
“I can’t go to the gym, what if they judge me?”
“I can’t make the first move, what if he doesn’t like me?”
Why do we care so much about what other people think of us?
Sure, insecurity plays a part. When we are unsure of who we are, we look to other people to tell us who to be.
However, I believe that the main reason we are so sensitive to other people’s perceptions of us is because we truly believe that we can change their opinion.
Think about it. If we adhere to the belief system that nobody’s mind can be changed, we would not place so much emphasis on what other people may think of us. After all, what goes on in their mind is simply up to them.
But what many people fail to realize is that this belief system is absolutely true. You cannot change somebody else’s mind.
People change because they want to. And they change when they want to.
An ex-boyfriend of mine used to sleep in until noon, stay indoors all day to play video games, and constantly scroll on social media to pass his free time. During our relationship, I would have to beg him to wake up before 10am or go outdoors with me.
I recently reconnected with him to find out that he now wakes up at 7am, takes regular walks, monitors his social media usage, and reads self-improvement books.