The Day I Stopped Caring What Others Thought

When I stopped caring what others thought of me, I stopped apologizing for being me. Instead of hiding my flaws, I started embracing them. Instead of judging myself, I began loving and accepting myself- all aspects, the good and the not-so-good. I started living up to my own standards and experiencing life on my terms.

When I stopped worrying needlessly about what people thought, I set myself free from the chains of fear and anxiety and was no longer a slave to others’ opinions and approval. I no longer felt the need to walk on eggshells and hide my natural humanness. I stopped feeling like I wasn’t good enough and comparing myself to others. I no longer allowed anyone else to dictate what I should say, do, think, or feel.

I began permitting myself to make mistakes because we all make them whether or not some of us admit it. Even better, I started learning from those mistakes and seeing them as life lessons, rather than defects or screw-ups. I finally accepted that I’m not and never will be perfect. Who is?

Silhouettes of hands are breaking the chain—freedom concept.

I learned that like, and dislike is subjective, never personal. I accepted that not everybody was going to like me and was not only okay with it but embraced it! Because if you don’t have people who don’t like you, you’re not doing something right- in one area or another, you’re not your true, authentic self.

I permitted myself to follow my heart, sing, dance, speak my piece, and yes! Even be a little weird. In all this, I took back control of my life and found freedom I’d never known.

The day I stopped caring what people think was the day I got my life back, and slowly but surely, my bullies began to disappear. I began to feel beautiful, smart, and, best of all, equal.

Positive things started coming my way magically and seemingly without effort. I began attracting the right people into my life- genuine people who were loving, caring, uplifting, and inspiring. Existing relationships drastically improved. An abundance of opportunities and blessings flowed into my life. I began seeing wins and successes that were very rewarding and fulfilling, which only encouraged me to stretch my imagination, take more risks, and try new things.

Today, I look back and ask myself why. Why did I even give a crap what my bullies and others- people who meant absolutely jack to me and could do nothing for me, thought of me?

They weren’t my family or friends.
They didn’t pay my bills.
They didn’t sign my paycheck every week.
They didn’t hold my life in their hands.
And they most certainly weren’t people I cared anything about.

I wasted a lot of time and energy, which I can never get back, worrying needlessly about what people thought of me. The truth of it is that most of those people nor their opinions were never even worth my consideration.

The only opinions that matter are those of my God, my family, my husband, and my closest and most trusted friends. And the only things that matter are my faith in God, my dreams, my morals, taking care of the people I love, my ability to be the best me I can be, and my desire to extend kindness and reach out and help those who need me. Anyone or anything outside of that is irrelevant.

0 thoughts on “The Day I Stopped Caring What Others Thought”

  1. aparna12 says:
    Reply

    It’s fantastic and you have just shared the same thoughts as mine. Superb post. Love and accept to be yourself. I too have experienced this.😊😊.Well done.

  4. Arun Singha says:
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    Cherie!
    Lovely post Cherie amazing for me.
    I am of same opinion as you said.
    And I have adopted this of late.
    But I am happy. I didn’t know that bothering for others is of no use.
    They have always made my time miserable whenever they were with me.
    I now don’t care.
    I started caring me.
    Thank you so much for a wonderful post. Highly motivational 🙏😊❤️🙏

  5. Ari says:
    Reply

    So true, the best thing about getting older is I feel people do start to shed away the cares of other people’s thoughts and opinions. I, for one, no longer tolerate people in my space who I clash with. Rather than constantly trying to get along and appease them, it’s better for everyone if we go our separate ways.

    Life is too short to worry how other people view us or if we might say the wrong thing. We should all do our best to be thoughtful with our words and deeds but sometimes even that’s not enough for people and it can be exhausting walking on eggshells around them.

    So it’s better to just walk away 🙂

  6. Kym Gordon Moore says:
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    So magnificently put Cherie. Now this right here sums it up >>>
    Today, I look back and ask myself why. Why did I even give a crap what my bullies and others- people who meant absolutely jack to me and could do nothing for me, thought of me?

    Girlfriend, I couldn’t have put it any other way. Life is to precious to waste it on B.S.! 🤨 And that’s all I have to say about that!!! 😁😆😄

  14. tsepoimpactor says:
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    Pleasing everyone is mission impossible so you need to live to the best of your capabilities and the way you see fit because if not then you will always be miserable while others are having fun.

  18. Jennifer Arimborgo says:
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    I am joyful, reading how you were set free to love yourself with God’s love! He has been teaching me this for years, taking it deeper and deeper. I am so grateful He is persistent in helping us internalize it more and more. Thanks for sharing!

  21. Cynni Pixy says:
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    Wow nice! I wish I was as far in this process as you are, as it sounds great. I want to be there, I’m trying to let go of the things and people that hurt me in the past. But some parts of my past left huge scars and they keep bringing my attention back to them, making this process go very slowly. I’m feeling I’m still going forward but sometimes when I’ve taken three steps, I feel like I need to take two back again… Is a long process for sure. Thanks for sharing! ♥

    • cheriewhite says:
      Reply

      You’re most welcome, Cynni. And I completely understand. It takes many, many years to recover from abuse. And if the scars are deep- it can take decades. But know that you will get there. I believe in you, sweetie. Sending you lots of love! ❤️

      • Cynni Pixy says:
        Reply

        Thanks dear! 🤗 At least I’m at the point where I’ve recognized what went wrong and now I’m learning to make amends for all I’ve done. Trying to heal while finding my own true best self. And those scars make it hard a lot of the times. But they also remind me sometimes of how far I have come. ♥ Wishing you all the best ♥

  22. Dr. Thomas Maples says:
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    I really enjoyed this little look into the journey of rediscovering Self. Sometimes we have to go through hell to break into paradise. Now that I write that, I don’t know if there is another way to break through. Thank you for sharing.

  25. Debra Dunn says:
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    Love your post dear ! This IS the absolute key to happiness , for sure ! I’ve been blessed to have known this for the better part of my life , though sadly , not my teen years . Those could have been better , had I . I tried to teach you this earlier in your life but no one understands this concept till they are mentally open to it . All we can do is be the best person we can be , work every day to grow and improve ourselves , and then except and forgive ourselves , and others , for failures . Being human is a continuous work in progress ! 🤜🏼🤛🏼❤️😘🙏

    • cheriewhite says:
      Reply

      Thank you so much, Mom! I love you so much! I love you more than I could ever say or express. 💖😘😘😘 I wish I had been receptive to it earlier in life but I didn’t understand what you were trying to teach me until later on! Thank you for never giving up on me- even after I’d given up on myself. I’ll forever be grateful to you! 💖💐🌹🕊🦋

  26. Pingback: Loving Myself: The Hardest Lesson I Learned - Chateau Cherie

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