You know those people who think they know you better than you know yourself? Yeah, you should ignore them. I'm talking about the ones who try to pass judgment without knowing much about you. The people who are clueless as to your goals, dreams, struggles, travails. Why do people do this? Because they're insecure about themselves. They're constantly measuring themselves against other people -- their looks, their clothes, the car they drive, their job, their overall lifestyle. When people perceive you as a threat, they try to do all sorts of things to malign you behind your back -- from spreading rumors to downright character assassination. I've seen this firsthand at work. The bottom line is that no one knows you better than you know yourself. Only you have the right to pass judgment on or criticize yourself, for no one else walks in your shoes. It's okay to offer some form of constructive criticism when warranted -- many of our well-meaning friends a...

There's nothing more admirable than someone who takes pride in their nerdy, geeky, wacky, or otherwise crazy self. When someone tells us not to be a certain way, it makes us want to be that way even more -- ten-fold. It's as if we're rebelling against a perceived attack on us. I love people who resolve to be true to themselves no matter how much criticism they get for it. They love themselves and don't apologize for it. To be different is to be unique -- not wrong. It's something to celebrate, not disparage. We should never compromise the things we believe, like, or do just to placate the masses. I'm tired of the pressure to conform to societal norms and expectations. We only have one life to live. Let's do so on our terms -- not anyone else's!

In many relationships, partners are particularly finicky about how much they feel their partner should weigh. As someone who prefers curvier women, I'll admit that I've told my wife I prefer she not get too skinny . But it seems most women (and men, for that matter) have the opposite dilemma: their partners insist that they keep their weight at or below a certain threshold. Notice how I used the word "prefer" above when referring to my wife's weight. If she chooses to lose more than I'd like, that's really her decision. I won't love her any less for it. If she were to gain weight, I'd still love her just the same. I would never put pressure on her to cater to my preferences. I might only become more emphatic in my desire that she gain or lose weight if I see her going too far in one direction. When health becomes a serious concern, that's when I'll make sure she hears me loud and clear. I think it's perfectly normal for our part...