Why others impose their views on us

Do people try to make you feel guilty or foolish for wanting to do something that you know will make you happy in the long run, but that they perceive as wrong because it isn't something they'd do themselves?

At the end of the day, it's your life!

Whether you decide to date someone your friends may not be particularly keen on, venture into a field that does not square with what your parents envisioned, or nurture a hobby your co-workers may deem utterly dull, nobody's opinion should take precedence over your own gut instincts.

Yes, the people near and dear to us may make well-meaning suggestions. But if they really think they know us better -- our passions, desires, goals -- than we know ourselves, they're flat-out fooling themselves.

Let's face it: Sometimes going down a different path than others brings out their insecurities.

People want you to think and act in ways that validate their own decisions.

So when you do something that strikes them as a little "out there," they try to persuade you against it.

Don't give in, or you may very well spend the rest of your life regretting it.

But when it's all said and done, you are responsible for your own decisions, and others have no choice but to respect that.

While there's no harm in seeking others' input, your voice matters more than theirs because it is your life we're talking about.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but they're not entitled to their own facts.

They don't know what's best for you better than you do.

Never apologize for your principles. Stand by them firmly! Remember one important thing:
There's only one person who will be there for you every moment of your life, and that's you.

Never turn your back on the things that make you the person you are.

The only way you can come into your own and reach your fullest potential is by following the path you've laid for yourself in both your mind and heart.

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