When we are children, our parents tell us not to care what others think of us. They may tell us even at a later time of our lives. It is repeated so often, it almost becomes cliche and we forget the truth behind it. We forget how important it is to listen to our wiser friends and loved ones who take the time to tell us about positive thinking.
The quiz questions about yourself will help you figure out how much you care what others think of you, and why. The results may surprise you.
But regardless of the specifics, it’s time to stop caring what other people think so much, because there are four reasons why this kind of behavior is bad for us:
You’ll start living your own life.
If you don’t care what people think of you, it will be easier to do the things that are important to you. You’re not going to waste time on things that don’t matter, like worrying about what others think of your hair or clothing choices. You’ll be able to focus more on what matters most: your health and happiness. And when people notice that change in you, they may begin asking themselves if their own lives could benefit from a little less caring about other people’s opinions.
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As an added bonus, living by this rule can actually make life easier for those around you. If someone brings up something negative about themselves or their life, rather than offering encouragement and praise (and thereby encouraging them to continue dwelling), simply remind them of this rule and let them know that they should stop caring too.
You’ll become more true to yourself.
Now let’s talk about what you can do.
The first step to stop caring what other people think of you is to start changing your thoughts and beliefs. This might sound difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. The best way I’ve found is through affirmations. Affirmations are positive statements that help train your brain into thinking positively about yourself and the world around you. You don’t have to say them out loud if that makes you uncomfortable; just repeat them in your head or write them down on paper until they become part of who you are as a person.
Here are some examples:
I am kind, loving and compassionate towards others.
I always make good decisions for myself without worry about what anyone else thinks about me for doing so.” – Meek Mill (rapper)
You’ll stop comparing yourself to others.
Once you stop caring what other people think of you, you’ll stop comparing yourself to others.
Comparing yourself to others is a waste of time because they’re not you. You have unique goals, experiences, and dreams that no one else has. You may as well be comparing apples and oranges.
In fact, when I started this blog back in 2009 (I was 22 years old), I had an obsession with comparing myself to other bloggers, even though I had absolutely nothing in common with them. I realized later on that the only thing those bloggers had in common with me was that we were all bloggers who were writing about our own experiences as young adults living in Los Angeles…and even then there were many differences among them.
You’ll stop losing sleep due to stress and anxiety.
You’ll stop losing sleep due to stress and anxiety.
Stress and anxiety are the number one cause of insomnia, which means that if you don’t get enough sleep, your mind is more susceptible to negative thoughts like “What will other people think?” or “Why am I so weird?” These questions can lead to even more worrying, which can result in lack of sleep, and then another round of self-doubt begins. It’s a vicious cycle.
The solution? Stop caring what other people think. You are perfect just the way you are; no need for change.
Caring what other people think is bad for you.
Caring what other people think of you is a waste of time. It can make you feel like you are not good enough, or that you have to be someone else for other people to like you. You might even end up feeling like you’re trying too hard when really, it doesn’t matter at all what others think about your actions and appearance.
There are so many things in life that we can control: how much money we make, where we live (and what kind of house), how healthy our bodies are, but there are also some things that aren’t so easy to change; namely the opinions of others who don’t know us well enough to appreciate our true selves.
Conclusion
So there you have it. Four reasons why caring what other people think of you is bad for your well-being. The first two are more about being true to yourself and living your best life, but the last two are especially important because they deal with stress and sleep deprivation. When we care too much about what other people think of us, it can lead to anxiety and stress that impacts our mental health; on top of that, not getting enough sleep makes us irritable and tired during the day. So remember: stop caring what others think about themselves, it will make everyone happier in the long run.