What others think of you is none of your business

I came across the following quote earlier this week while browsing the web:

"What people think of you is none of your business."

When I started to analyze the quote more carefully, I realized that there's a lot of truth to it.

Sure, we all want to know what others think of us so that we can manage our reputation accordingly, including dispelling any misconceptions they may have about us.

But that doesn't necessarily mean that you should change anything about yourself based on information you dig up. Regardless of what they think of you, if you're happy with yourself, that's all that matters. If you're not entirely happy with yourself and think they have a point -- whether it's that you should talk more during meetings or not talk over people in conversation -- there's no harm in working to improve yourself in those areas.

I want people to regard me as an intelligent man, so if I were to discover that they think otherwise, would I take offense to it? Probably, and I would make every effort to reverse that perception. But that in no way means that I would start to question my intelligence. I don't need anyone to tell me that I'm bright in order to reinforce what I already feel -- and know -- about myself.

We'll never please everyone. Some people probably wish that we were funnier. Others wish we were into sports. Still others might be dying to tell you they think your wardrobe is tacky.

But we're not in this world to cater to others' whims and preferences. If we were, we'd be pulled in different directions all the time.

We're individual people for a reason. We have our own unique tastes. We have disparate views. Different hopes. Different dreams.

And there's absolutely no reason a person should ever impugn them. People are subject to their own opinions, but opinions aren't facts. The only one who can render a completely fair, unbiased assessment is none other than yourself.

Don't spend so much time worrying about what others think about you. Instead, focus on what you think about yourself. Are you happy with yourself?

For more posts, please click here; How to Understand People

Comments

Do you have Isolophilia? Find out...

You're probably asking yourself, "What in the world does Isolophilia mean?" It sounds like it would be something negative, doesn't it? After all, words that end in "philia" (e.g., pedophilia) tend to involve things we want nothing to do with. But Isolophilia isn't something all people deplore. In fact, introverts like me welcome it. Put simply, Isolophilia is defined as having a strong affinity for solitude. It describes a person who relishes being alone. While extroverts can only take so much solitude, we introverts find that it rejuvenates us. In order to recharge our batteries, we need to retreat to a quiet environment where we we're left alone to rest and/or gather our thoughts. Extroverts, on the other hand, become bored and drained when they're alone for a lengthy period of time. Social interaction is the fuel that drives them. So while an extrovert would probably do anything to avoid feelings of Isolophilia in most cases, an...

No response from someone IS a response

Make no mistake about it: When you don't get a response from someone -- whether they fail to answer your texts or return your phone calls -- it is still a response, and a powerful one at that. When a person fails to respond, it's a direct reflection of their interest -- or lack thereof -- in the relationship. Few things are more aggravating than having to hound a partner, friend, or relative for some sort of reply after we've reached out to them. Yes, we get busy from time to time, but that doesn't give anyone the right to leave the other person hanging. A terse text with something like "Been busy, will reach out soon" doesn't say much, but at least it shows some effort to bring the other person up to speed on why they've fallen off the radar. Failing to provide a response for weeks -- if not months -- communicates that you are just not a priority, and that you'll have to wait your turn to get this individual's attention. This is n...

The 1 good thing cheaters do for us

Nothing good could come of a relationship marred by infidelity, right? The heartache, the shock, the feeling of one's trust being violated. In the short-term, being cheated on can turn one's world upside down. But eventually, there may be a light awaiting the cheated at the end of the tunnel. If you really think about it, cheaters end up doing us a huge favor. In their selfishness and disloyalty, they end up showing us that we deserve better. If you're so unfortunate as to be a victim of such acts of betrayal, you can only hope the cheater is considerate enough to own up to their missteps. But we all know full well that, in many cases, the cheater is either caught in the act or leaves behind a trail of hints that ultimately culminates in their undoing. The more classy thing to do is to discuss their feelings openly with their partner before straying. If all talks lead to an impasse or a further escalation of tensions, both parties should take it as a ...

Search This Blog