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A Not-So-Bitter Pill to Swallow
Releasing a long-time fear isn’t the bitter pill I thought it might be.
For most of my life, the opinions of others have been of the utmost importance to me. I’ve sought approval, recognition, and generally being liked.
More and more, though, it’s become increasingly evident to me that this doesn’t matter. At least, not in the way I tend to emphasize it.
What do I mean? The short answer is that the opinions of others are not what makes MY life. My life belongs to me.
That’s an oversimplification. Allow me to elaborate.
Many people in my life care about me. Some are family, some friends. I know that they have my best interests at heart.
Yet they don’t approve of many of my choices. They pass judgment that I make poor choices that are unrealistic and foolish on my part.
For most of my life — I cared about this. I don’t like when my friends and family disapprove of me and my choices. Thus, I’ve been conflicted because of this.
How? Because I feel bad and guilty for all the ways that I am letting the people who care about me down. Then, I sometimes take that in and second-guess my decisions. Are they right? Am I foolish for pursuing this path?
