Literally. IMG_8995

Just stop.

Someone doesn't like you. Don't care.

You're different. Don't care.

You're the same. Don't care.

The secret is in the not caring. When we attach significance in our lives, especially to things outside of our control, that's where undue stress enters in. We worry about how others view us - concerned about their judgements regarding our appearance, how we speak, what we wear, how we spend our free time, what we know, what we don't know, who we spend time with, what we eat, what we drink, how we ... the list is never ending.

And that's the shit that keeps us up at night.

Especially us people-pleasers. (Hi, nice to meet you. Yes, we're all this way. No, none of us are ok. But I promise we're working on it. Join us.)

And one day, I decided to just stop. None of it mattered anymore.

I hit a point where I was so exhausted by the mere idea of giving a hoot, that I was no longer going to let another ounce of energy be wasted on opinions of others.

I realized that as long as I like myself, I did what I needed to in the day, and I haven't wronged anyone in the process, everything else just slipped away. Embarassing moments became funny ones, public speaking became second nature, and judgements passed my way became simply a reflection of the judger.

I've learned to stand my ground, speak up for what I believe in, and hold firm in my sense of self.

And everything and everyone else could bugger off.

You just have to reach the point where the idea of wasting time thinking about the judgements of others actually angers you. That's when the magic happens.

Leaning wholeheartedly into who you are and what you want to do that you live your life free from caring?

That's the secret to living, instead of existing.

C x