This post is all about how to stop caring what others think or say about you.
Stop Caring About What Others Say About You
Do you get triggered by what others say about you? Does it make you frustrated or make you doubt yourself? Do not give them that kind of power!
You will continue to suffer if you have an emotional reaction to everything that is said to you. True power is sitting back and observing everything with logic. If words control you that means everyone else can control you. Breathe and allow things to pass. – Bruce Lee
STOP CARING ABOUT PEOPLE’S COMMENTS
They can come in various forms…
It could be a comment online:
“You suck!”
Or a discouragement from a friend:
“You’re still writing that book, hm? It’s actually really hard to get published.”
It could be a sarcastic or rhetorical question:
“Oh, you’re wearing THAT coat?” (asked when leaving the house and it’s freaking obvious that yes, I am wearing that coat…)
Or it can come in the form of an exaggeration:
“You’re ALWAYS drinking wine” (When in fact it’s the first drink you’re having in 2 years since you had your baby….)
People’s comments about us, whether it’s about our job, our choices, our appearance, whether it’s online or offline, whether expressed straight to our faces or behind our backs, can be triggering.
They have the potential to hurt us, make us frustrated, angry, make us wanna discuss and defend ourselves. What others say about us can make us judge or doubt ourselves.
Before we get into why you shouldn’t care about what others say about you, you need to check in with yourself first. Are they even saying anything (yet)? Or is it only in your head?
Many of us are so self-critical that we will tell ourselves NO to an idea, to an opportunity and we will diss and ridicule and judge ourselves in our minds before anyone even gets the chance to do so.
We might see a job position that really speaks to us, but we don’t even apply because we tell ourselves we don’t have all the qualifications they’re asking for (hell, no one ever does!). Or even worst, we do have them, but we minimize our achievements and doubt our skills. And so we don’t even apply, meaning we tell ourselves no, we reject ourselves before the potential employee even gets the chance to do so.
Or we have an idea, one that keeps us up all night planning it all out, imagining every detail, whether it’s writing a kid’s book, creating a podcast, or moving abroad. But then the next morning, or if we are lucky enough to feel the inspiration a bit longer, the next evening the excitement fades away and we give in to resistance, to fear, to self-judgment, and to self-doubt.
Once again, we tell ourselves NO and never even take the first step.
I hope you see how crazy and actually sad that is!
I can imagine you’ve heard it a million times before, but it does all start with you.
Now that we have established that, we have to specify who they are since the actual questions shouldn’t be why not to care about what others say but rather whose opinion shouldn’t matter to you.
Here’s a basic “guide” to people whose comments, opinions, attitudes you should not take to heart
People who have NOT achieved what you’re trying to achieve. Who haven’t been to places you’re trying to go. Who are not doing what you’re doing.
Brené Brown puts it perfectly:
“A lot of cheap seats in the arena are filled with people who never venture onto the floor. They just hurl mean-spirited criticisms and put-downs from a safe distance. The problem is, when we stop caring what people think and stop feeling hurt by cruelty, we lose our ability to connect. But when we’re defined by what people think, we lose the courage to be vulnerable. Therefore, we need to be selective about the feedback we let into our lives. For me, if you’re not in the arena getting your ass kicked, I’m not interested in your feedback.” ― Brené Brown
People who on a daily basis don’t contribute to your happiness and wellbeing. Who don’t bring love into your life, don’t put food on your table, or don’t pay your bills.
People who are not there for you in difficult times. Who are not there when you’re sad and struggling, who do not offer support, a hug, or a cup of coffee.
So, how I see it:
If they are not feeding you nor wiping away your tears, meaning they don’t usually care about you, they DON’T get to be the source of your worry, stress, frustration, self-judgment, anxiety, cause discussions, fights, and so on.
People who don’t know you, your values, and your priorities. Who don’t know where you’re coming from or where you’re going. As well as people who don’t know the whole context of a particular situation.
You have no responsibility to live up to what other people think you ought to accomplish. I have no responsibility to be like they expect me to be. It’s their mistake, not my failing. – Richard P. Feynman
Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation. – Oscar Wilde
A COUPLE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER
Small people talk about people
Hurt people, hurt people
Those who are at peace with themselves, who are happy or busy getting there will NOT criticize or judge you. They don’t have the time, energy, or the desire to do so.
On the other hand, those who are bored, frustrated with themselves, jealous, who are not working on achieving their own goals, are the ones that will come after you. Simply because that’s easier.
They might not know better
Some people just don’t know better. In so many situations in life, there is no good or bad, right or wrong way of doing things. A lot depends on the community, culture, the country you’re in. What’s celebrated in one, might be looked down upon in another and vice versa.
And we have to understand that some people just don’t realize that.
They will judge you based on their idea of how things are supposed to be done, what’s good, what’s “normal”, how life should be lived.
By understanding that their perspective, their worldview might be very limited you know better than taking what they say personally or trying to discuss with them.
So how do you stop caring about everyone’s comments? Next time you’re faced with criticism, a comment that triggers you, unsolicited advice, and so on, ask yourself that question:
DOES THIS PERSON EVEN QUALIFY TO GET A RESPONSE OR A REACTION FROM ME?
Is it valuable input, something that could lead to a productive discussion or should I just treat it as background noise and ignore it?
Pictures in this post are from pexels.com.
Remember…
“Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“People who repeatedly attack your confidence and self-esteem are quite aware of your potential, even if you are not.” – Wayne Gerard Trotman
“The minute you start caring about what other people think, is the minute you stop being yourself.” – Meryl Streep“Life is too short to waste any amount of time on wondering what other people think about you. In the first place, if they had better things going on in their lives, they wouldn’t have the time to sit around and talk about you. What’s important to me is not others’ opinions of me, but what’s important to me is my opinion of myself.” – C. JoyBell C
So…
My dear, don’t give a damn!
This post was all about people whose comments and feedback you should stop caring about.
