This is coming from someone who took criticism and other people’s opinions to heart. Someone who would react in a way that proved they were deeply hurt, and didn’t know how else to deal with it.
Someone who was lead by emotion and very little logic. Which is another way of saying – that someone’s self esteem still had a couple mountains to climb, and a few hurdles to overcome.
That someone would rather act like he’s just been punched in the face, and let other people’s opinions stand in his way. Instead of brushing it off and treating it exactly like what it is. Nothing but an opinion.
That someone is of course myself. At least it was.
Now I don’t give a damn, and it feels great. To help you get to that point, here are 6 Reasons To NOT Give A Fuck About People’s Opinions.
1. It doesn’t make you any happier
“Giving a fuck doesn’t go with my outfit.” – Trina
When I first started sharing my writing online, I received criticism almost immediately. Probably within the first 2 weeks.
I was criticized for my writing style, grammar, spelling, layout, ideas, you name it. But you know what I’ve realized since then?
Giving a fuck doesn’t make me any happier.
Why would anybody care about something that makes them sad instead of happy? Especially if you’re in control of how you can respond and deal with it.
Stressing over shit that doesn’t add to my happiness is like dipping my head in a tub of acid. It’s only gonna chip away at my happiness, not enhance it.
So give that some thought the next time you’re criticized.
2. It doesn’t make you anymore successful
Define success however you want to. It’s all the same in the end.
One time I wrote an article for Pick The Brain. That was earlier this year, 2016.
The criticism I received was something similar to – “So he’s a 20 something year old who’s an extrovert, arrogant, and vain? This post is bullshit.”
Would responding to that in a negative way, or crying about it make me anymore successful? That’s the question you need to remind yourself of when dealing with the same thing.
If it doesn’t make you anymore successful, why are you driving yourself nuts over it?
3. It doesn’t change their opinions of you
Opinions are like assholes. Everybody’s got one. – Unknown
Every morning the sun rises, and every night the sun falls. Then the moon comes out, and the whole thing repeats over and over again non stop.
What’s this got to do with people’s opinions?
No matter how much you care about the fact that the sun rises and falls, day in and day out, there’s nothing you can do to change it. Opinions are exactly the same.
If someone thinks you’re a fucking asshole, then that’s exactly what they think you are. And If you’ve done nothing to provoke it, then there’s nothing you can do to change those opinions.
So why waste your precious time and mental energy? Don’t bother.
4. It doesn’t pay you
“It doesn’t pay to care about the opinions of other people.” – Unknown
Wouldn’t it be great if you were paid every time you were criticized? And every time someone shared their negative, unproductive opinion of you?
That’s a nice fantasy, but it’s one that has less chance becoming true than pigs growing wings and being able to fly in real life.
In fact, the only thing opinions pay you is stress, worry, fear, procrastination, and problems. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather sell that bullshit because it’s not worth having.
5. It won’t solve your problems
“Opinions don’t give a fuck about your problems.” – Unknown
Opinions could care less about the problems you’re dealing with. And the people who are venting their BS onto your work, your looks, or whatever else don’t care either.
I’d love to use opinions to solve my problems, but then I’d have to slap myself and realize that’s not even a possibility.
Besides, there are better things to pay attention to that are worth your time. As opposed to nonsense that will only hold you back and keep you down like a bird that’s been shot out of the sky.
6. It won’t make your life anymore peaceful
“Criticism’s job isn’t to make your life more peaceful. It’s job is to make your life unhappy.” – Unknown
When it all comes down to it, we all want life to be more peaceful. Let’s be real about this.
We want our family to be happy. Ourselves to be happy. We want to have holidays, work, do the things that uplift and inspire us. We want to eat good food, avoid trouble, and make the best out of the time we have on this planet.
None of that is possible if you’re giving a shit about other people’s empty opinions. Focusing on other people’s opinions will take your peaceful life by the throat, and squeeze it until there’s nothing left of it.
And guess what? While you live life dictated by another person’s opinion, they’ll be living their lives without giving YOU a second thought.
They probably won’t even remember it, let alone care. So why would you? Why should you?
The most dangerous prison is the prison you create in your mind. Just make sure you don’t lock the doors and throw away the keys, because the stress is not worth it.
Recommended Post: 7 Celebrities Who Started Out With Poor Self Esteem