Although it’s natural for our brains to care about how others perceive us, it’s not always healthy. If you find yourself often creating mind stories about what someone thinks about what you just said or did, you are most likely creating dissatisfaction in your life that can be turned around.
Try these mind hacks the next time you find yourself caring too much about what someone thinks of you.
1 – Everyone has Flaws
We all make mistakes. We all have issues that we could work on to become better, happier people. And yes, that includes you, but it also includes those people you worry don’t like you or don’t think you are good enough.
While it’s not healthy to drag up every negative thing you can think of about someone else, it’s a good practice to remember in general that no one is perfect.
2 – Life is Short
It feels good to be liked and admired. But there are bound to be people in this world that you just don’t click with. Being okay with that can be challenging, but if you find yourself trying to do everything you can to make someone like you, you are wasting your energy.
Life is way too short to worry about what erroneous things people might think of you. You can’t control what someone thinks. To ensure you are living the life you have to the fullest, it’s healthier to just shrug your shoulders if someone seems to dislike you and move on.
3 – They Aren’t Thinking About You
Most people are caught up in their own thoughts and worries. When you come into contact with someone who seems to look down on you, it may simply be that they feel bad about themselves or a choice they just made. They, just like you, are caught up in their own mental world.
The reality is that most of the time, people aren’t thinking about us at all, but are focused on what’s going on in their own lives. They often react out of that place too, not based on what you’ve done or said.
4 – Just Do It… Anyway
When we have a goal—something that we really desire to see happen, we can often be kept in a state of inaction because of fear of what others will think. You may have even experienced having a close friend tell you how irrational, unlikely or just plain crazy your dream is once you finally opened up and shared.
Remember point #2? Life is short, and we have to take a deep breath and dive in if we ever want our lives to be the way we want them to be. Don’t let others determine what you can and can’t do. The risk is always worth taking.