Why you need to stop caring what other people think

For this week's post, I decided to take a break from my series ~Exploring the cities of America~ and take time for a little PSA.

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While I was meandering through a list of ideas about what to write, I realized my incessant concern for what people think of me, my actions, what I wear, etc. I realized that this concern and worry has hindered me from doing many things I wanted to do in the past but would never put myself out there to do. I got over this concern enough to start a blog, but I still couldn’t get myself to post regulary out of embarrassment of what others would think.

As humans, we tend to worry about other people's opinions way too much. Our minds construct unrealistic events that could happen if we did something deemed "uncool" by society or by our friends. As an effect we become wearisome of doing what we want to do because we are scared of these “unrealistic events and opinions" becoming reality. The key word here is unrealistic - meaning these events and opinions are so absurd they will most likely never happen. Even if some people have negative opinions towards your actions, they won’t express these negative opinions to your face ( if they do, you should consider getting more supportive friends).

I’m very lucky in the friend department and am grateful for that because my friends always support me in everything I do. I’ve never encountered someone who shot down something I did or harshly criticized me.

If this has happened to you, I’m sorry, I imagine it sucks. But just remember It is your Life so who cares what you decide or what you want to do. Go start a YouTube channel or design your own clothes. It’s human nature to judge others but stop judging yourself based on unrealistic opinions. I’m guilty of this no less than the next person, but I’ve realized that you only have one life and there is no point wasting away your days worrying about what someone might say about you or said about you six months ago. The fact is, people will say and do mean things but you need to keep trudging on through life. Don’t let something that could happen impede you doing something you want to do today.

I know I struggled with this my second semester of college because a lot was going on with friends and school. Some of it was good, but some was bad. I tired myself out by worrying about what people thought of me, my actions, what I wore, etc. I should have been focusing on what I thought about myself because at the end of the day, the only person who is stuck with you and your actions, is yourself. No one else has to put up with you day to day, so who gives a flying f*** what they think.

My problem was that I had a lot going for me and all I could think about was all the negative. At the time I did not realize or know how to fix my issue. I just kept throwing myself into new situations and ended up getting so overwhelmed by how involved I was, I would eventually break down. The thing is once I got home and out of this cloud; I was immediately upset about all the time I wasted on being unhappy and not attempting to talk or spend time with friends and family. I was afraid about them thinking I was too clingey or annoying or weird or a bothersome by wanting to talk to them all the time. In reality, this probably wasn't the case. I shouldn’t have worried about what other people thought and just did what I thought would make me happy. Sometimes you just have to throw yourself off the cliff into the abyss with all the llamas and goats to be happy. Who cares if people think you’re a little weird hanging out with the llamas and goats. You do you boo.

Do not give a f*** what others think too much. It took time but I’ve realized not everyone will like you and you will lose people along the way but that’s life. Every bus has its stops, people get on and people get off.

It’s hard to stay positive, but it’s most especially regarding yourself. Don’t make it even harder by throwing in unrealistic opinions, you’ll just confuse yourself.

In conclusion...Keep your head up buttercup! Do you, baby girl! Don't let other people or your own imagination get in your way of your daily life and dreams.

Just jump off that cliff into the abyss with llamas and goats, who knows you could discover a passion you never knew you had.

xoxo,

Rachel P.