3 Science-Backed Ways to Stop Caring What People Think
A lot of the problems in our lives are created by the constant worrying about what other people are thinking. The truth is, we are in this world only for a limited period of time and we have just one life. If we make our decisions and reorient our directions based on the judgements made by others, then we will loose our soul. In the process of caring too much about others and making comparisons with others, our own purpose in life may become blurred. However, there are some clear-cut and psychology-backed ways through which we can reclaim absolute control over our lives. We can turn down the power that other people’s opinions has over us by using these tricks. Read on.
1. “Some Things are Up to Us & Some Things are Not Up to Us”
The great Roman Stoic philosopher Epictetus wrote: “Some things are up to us and some things are not up to us. Our opinions are up to us, and our impulses, desires, aversions- in short, whatever is our own doing… our possessions are not upto us, our reputations, or our public offices, or, whatever is not our own doing.”
This idea that Epictetus put forth became the foundation of CBT or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy of modern psychology that is extensively used for depression and anxiety disorders. What other people think about us, someone reciprocating our love or even the amount of possessions that we have; these things don’t lie within our total control. Therefore, instead of wasting our time and energy on these external elements, what an independent individual must do is focus on those things that he or she can control.
Your attitude and the way you perceive things are within your total control. The fundamental idea is, it all comes down to your perspectives. It is our ethical responsibility, as the hero of our own life, to see whatever that happens in a positive light. This powerful habit of reframing our own perspectives and attitudes in itself can greatly lower the amount of anxiety that we feel as a result of other people’s judgements or opinions.
2. Listen to Your Body Intelligence
Our minds are filled with the accumulated emotional weightage and thought patterns from childhood days onwards. But our body has an intelligence of its own which we call intuition, gut feelings or instinct. When someone breaks a boundary and when the moment comes when we should really say no, our bodies will start giving messages. You will feel the stress hormones flowing and other physiochemical changes taking place within your system. Listen to it. Be ruthlessly authentic, natural and direct. If you don’t stand up for yourself, no one else is going to do that for you.
How can you become sensitive towards the messages provided by the body? Start practising activities like yoga or tai chi where you have focus deeply on your own body. Meditations like Vipassana will also help a lot. Once you become deeply authentic and natural, what other people think and say will not faze you much.
3. Let Go of Toxic Positivity
We are all humans. The best way to let go of negativities and sadness is to feel it and let it go out by flowing through your body. Today’s self-help gurus may ask you to remain positive all the time. They would say, maintain positive thoughts, even if life has touched rock-bottom. The truth is, if there is light, there will be darkness. If there is sunlight, there will be rain. So, becoming negative is normal. Suppressing those emotions is abnormal.
The emotions that we suppress will jump out of our mind at odd moments. Those unattended feelings will create so much complexities and problems in your life. Stay grounded. Meditate if you want. Deeply feel all those emotions that are arising within you. Then let go. Ride through the waves. That’s life.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to stop being such a caring person?
To stop being overly caring start by setting firm boundaries and learning to say "no" to protect your time and energy. What are healthy ways to detach emotionally?
Healthy emotional detachment involves setting firm boundaries, focusing on self-care and accepting what you cannot control to protect your peace. What lifestyle choices reduce anxiety?
regular exercise, balanced nutrition and quality sleep are 3 key habits that you follow to reduce anxiety.
1. “Some Things are Up to Us & Some Things are Not Up to Us”
This idea that Epictetus put forth became the foundation of CBT or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy of modern psychology that is extensively used for depression and anxiety disorders. What other people think about us, someone reciprocating our love or even the amount of possessions that we have; these things don’t lie within our total control. Therefore, instead of wasting our time and energy on these external elements, what an independent individual must do is focus on those things that he or she can control.
Your attitude and the way you perceive things are within your total control. The fundamental idea is, it all comes down to your perspectives. It is our ethical responsibility, as the hero of our own life, to see whatever that happens in a positive light. This powerful habit of reframing our own perspectives and attitudes in itself can greatly lower the amount of anxiety that we feel as a result of other people’s judgements or opinions.
2. Listen to Your Body Intelligence
How can you become sensitive towards the messages provided by the body? Start practising activities like yoga or tai chi where you have focus deeply on your own body. Meditations like Vipassana will also help a lot. Once you become deeply authentic and natural, what other people think and say will not faze you much.
3. Let Go of Toxic Positivity
The emotions that we suppress will jump out of our mind at odd moments. Those unattended feelings will create so much complexities and problems in your life. Stay grounded. Meditate if you want. Deeply feel all those emotions that are arising within you. Then let go. Ride through the waves. That’s life.
Explore the latest trends and tips in Health & Fitness, Spiritual, Travel, Life Hacks, Trending, Fashion & Beauty, and Relationships at Times Life!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To stop being overly caring start by setting firm boundaries and learning to say "no" to protect your time and energy.
Healthy emotional detachment involves setting firm boundaries, focusing on self-care and accepting what you cannot control to protect your peace.
regular exercise, balanced nutrition and quality sleep are 3 key habits that you follow to reduce anxiety.
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