How I Stopped Caring About What Other's Think of Me...

Do you find yourself worrying about what other people think of you?

Do you feel like you’re making decisions based on other people’s opinions?

Buying things you don’t want, to impress people you don’t like?

We’ve all been there. Me, more than most.

I’m going to help you to stop caring about the opinions of others.

Make sure you stick around… the last point is somewhat controversial.

Why Do We Care About What Others Think?

As social beings, we’re wired to seek approval and validation from others.

It’s natural to want to be liked and accepted by:

• Friends

• Family

• Work colleagues

In some cases, caring about what others think can be beneficial.

It helps you build relationships.

But, when it becomes an obsession, it’s harmful to your well being.

Here are some of the negative effects that caring too much can have:

1. Anxiety and stress: You can spend hours obsessing over what someone said or did. Or, worry about how others will react to your actions, when in reality, it just doesn’t matter.

2. Indecision and lack of self-confidence: You may struggle to make decisions that align with your priorities. This can lead to indecision and a lack of self-confidence.

3. It can prevent you from taking risks and pursuing dreams. Playing it safe, and missing out on opportunities for growth.

I’m going to share 6 tips that helped me remove the need for approval from others.

Recognise The Problem

The first step to overcoming any problem is to recognise that it exists, and this is a big step for a lot of people.

It’s the only way to swap out the excuses for actionable changes.

Acknowledge that it’s holding you back from living your best life.

Make a pledge to yourself to make changes.

When making changes, the first step is accountability, and recognising the problem.

Don’t ignore it. Face it head on.

It’s important to know that a lot of people have this problem, and are trying to rectify it, so you aren’t alone in this.

Accountability never leads to anything bad. Step 1, complete.

Practise Self Care

When you care for yourself, you don’t need validation from others.

Practice self-care to build your self-esteem and confidence. Learn to be okay without the approval of other people.

Take care of your physical and emotional health by:

• Exercising

• Eating well

• Getting enough sleep

• Practising relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga

Spend sufficient time alone, and spend time doing things that you enjoy.

Become comfortable being alone.

Embrace what YOU enjoy doing, rather than going along with the crowd.

Chances are, the crowd is being led by someone who is doing what THEY enjoy.

Surround Yourself With Good People

Associate with people who encourage you, rather than who judge you, or criticise what you enjoy.

It’s one of life’s greatest assets. Other people.

Having a strong support system helps your confidence. It can provide a positive influence on your life.

Seek out…

• Friends

• Family members

• Mentors

…who will support you in your journey.

It’s be hard to remove people from your life. But, you don’t owe anybody anything, and there’s nothing wrong with putting yourself first.

Take Small Steps

Overcoming the need for approval is a process that takes time and effort.

Start by taking small steps towards self-acceptance.

This could mean:

• Trying a new hobby.

• Setting a personal goal.

• Expressing your opinion on something.

With each small win, you’ll build your confidence and care less about what others think.

Trying to change too much too quickly, could be too daunting or too uncomfortable.

Make sure you go about this in a sustainable way, and making smaller changes will help you do this.

Spend Time Alone

Spending time alone will help you understand that…

It’s not how other people see you, that matters.

It’s how you see yourself that matters.

Being comfortable in your own skin, and being comfortably with your own company, can help you remove the need for validation from others.

Some people can’t stand being alone, and I think this is a bad thing in general.

Sure, you don’t want to be alone all the time.

But, spending enough time alone to figure out who you really are, and what you really want form life, can help you to stop caring about what other people think of you.

(CONTROVERSIAL) Build A Superiority Complex

This might sound bad, but trust me, it works.

One thing that helped me remove the need for validation, was that I saw myself as being above anyone who tried to judge me.

When you seek validation, you tend to seek validation from those above you in the social hierarchy.

or people who you respect more than you respect yourself.

A bit like peer pressure.

One of the simplest things you can do is put yourself above other people in your mind.

Or give yourself more respect than you give others.

Again, this might sound bad, but try thinking to yourself…

I’m better than you. I don’t need your approval.

There is a line to this. You don’t want to turn into an ahole.**

But, reaching a level of inner confidence, and borderline arrogance, can help you avoid caring about what those around you think of you.

Think of it like a mode.

It’s not a mode you want to be in all the time, but have it there in case you need to flick the switch.

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