3. The Opinions of Others

"Popular opinion is the greatest lie in the world."- Thomas Carlyle

This is Day 3 of Be You, Be Inspired, Be the Change, a 21 day journey of looking at all the things that get in the way of us being the change we want to see in the world.

Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash

The Tao Te Ching says,

He who knows, does not speak. He who speaks, does not know.

We are bombarded by the opinions of others, in the media, in our heads.

The words of others, especially those that reveal what they think of us seem to lodge in our mind as the voice that sneers “You can’t do that, what would everyone say?”

When we believe that voice, we allow it to stop us doing what we really want to do, being who we want to be in the world.

We forget it is just someone else’s opinion, filtered through the lens of their own conditioning, that has somehow morphed into sounding just like our own voice.

But what if it is not true?

Can you see the value in spending some time finding out who you are and what you want, beyond everyone else’s opinion of you, what they think you are capable of and who they want you to be in their life?

JOURNAL PROMPTS

1. What have I been believing about others’ opinions of me?

2. What would it take for you to give yourself permission to BE YOU, without explanation or apology.

3. What would change TODAY if you did not care what anyone else thought of you?

“Other people’s opinions of you are none of your business.” 

 ROBIN SHARMA