Other People’s Opinions

Everyone you know has a different version of you in their head.

They created it.

And it isn’t your responsibility.

You are not responsible for other people’s opinions of you.

You are not responsible for how they see you, what they think of you, or their expectations of you.

You are not responsible for them understanding you or misunderstanding you.

You are not responsible for them thinking you are too much, too loud, too assertive, too smart.

You are not responsible for them thinking you are not enough, too quiet, not strong enough, not smart enough.

And you can’t truly control any of it.

They choose what to think about you. Consciously or not.

And it really has nothing to do with you.

They are making their decisions based on their brain, their experiences, their social conditioning, their beliefs, their own self judgment.

Just like the version of other people you’ve created in your mind is not a reflection of them. It is a reflection of you.

Your opinion of them is not their responsibility either.

One reason we don’t go out and do big things or take risks or do the things we love is because we are worried about what people might think.

So we change our behavior in an effort to control what they think.

But it’s just an illusion of control.

One that keeps you playing small.

Doing things you don’t want.

Against your best interest.

Counter to your dreams, wants, and needs.

Here’s what matters:

What is your opinion of you?

What do you think of you?

That’s what’s within your control.

That's where your power is.