Like this:

We spend so much time worrying about what people are going to think about us or what they are saying about us. So here is an important insight…they are worrying about the same thing!

I can’t count the number of times someone has said to me “oh, I can’t do that, what would people think? They don’t get it that the other person is too worried about what people are thinking about them.

Instead we can imprison ourselves in a small box, fearful of venturing out lest the world will think of us in an unflattering light. We don’t realize the penalties we are inflicting upon ourselves by this action.

I have had coaching clients give me variations of the above scenario, and in particular, fall upon the excuse of what their parents might think. Here is the sad truth, many of these clients are 40, 50 or even 60 years old. Way too old to be concerned about living their lives in the shadow of someone else’s opinion. And even more tragic is when their parents are no longer alive. They still hold onto the fear of what these now deceased parents might think of them!

How come we continue to live this way? For many I believe it can be summed up in a variety of ways such as a habit that has been perpetuating for far too long. For others it might be that even though there is pain and fear associated with taking the chance to truly live as if other people’s opinions don’t matter, it is not enough pain to draw us into action.

Where are you restricting yourself in living the life you want because you fear the opinion of a spouse, parent, teacher, friend, colleague, boss or worse yet someone you don’t even know. Imagine what might be possible in your life if you elected to follow your heart and instead gave little heed to the opinions of others?

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