By 
Everybody is painting their own masterpiece
What other people think of you doesn’t have to determine who you are because your sense of yourself shouldn’t be affected by their opinion of you. From an impressionable age, we consider the opinions of others because we want to be accepted and fit in. But as we mature and develop self-esteem, it shouldn’t matter what other people think of us. Let me be clear in saying that it is important that our peers accept us, but we must not put our self-esteem in their hands. Self-acceptance helps connect us to our core selves and gives us feedback on who we are as individuals. But it doesn’t need to dictate our self-esteem because who we are is so much greater than the opinions of others.
What are your impressions? Do you agree, what others think of you does not determine your reality, unless you allow it? Sadly, many people are influenced by the opinions of those who are closest to them, such as family, friends, and co-workers. In particular, the family has the greatest influence in our lives and can undermine our self-esteem. I know people from diverse cultures where parents play an important role in deciding the career of their children. While his intentions are honorable, it is shameful for the surname if the child does not practice a noble profession such as a doctor or a lawyer. Is this something you can identify with in your family or culture? If so, how did you handle it? Did it affect your self-esteem?
Today, everyone has an opinion on how others should live their life, but rarely do these people examine their own lives. In my job as a speaker and coach, I have yet to come across someone who has all their affairs in order. I mean it in the best way, insofar as our life is a work in progress and we may never reach our full potential. That is why we should not judge others because everyone is painting their own masterpiece to the best of their ability. During my early adulthood, I was concerned about the opinions of others, which affected my self-esteem and self-confidence. Who they thought I should be wasn’t something I could measure up to, and it hurt trying to be that person.
Eventually these relationships dissolved because I was unwilling to minimize my self-esteem to appease them. I lived by my core values, even if it meant making my own mistakes. It was important that I find my way, rather than live up to someone else’s opinion of me. Unfortunately, not many people know how to live their life. They may claim that they know what is best for you, but above all it is an impression of what is good for you.. We must go our own way as this is how we learn and grow as individuals. And yes, it is difficult to see a loved one make unnecessary mistakes, but they may be necessary for their personal evolution.
We discover our true potential in our darkest moments
Our task is not to eliminate their difficulties, but to empower them with support and encouragement to overcome them. This can be difficult, especially if the individual is addicted to alcohol or is experimenting with drugs and we may not want to see them suffer in this way. I don’t claim to have the answers, but I know that emotional support is the best way to help people overcome their difficulties. How do you feel about this so far? I’m sure you have a lot of questions and opinions about what you’ve read so far. I encourage you to write your thoughts in a journal and sit with them for a few days to see what comes up.
We should not allow other people’s opinions of us to determine who we are because their opinion is not fact. Naturally, our life path will evolve as we mature, and we will experience many ups and downs where it might seem like our life is spinning out of control. But this is part of the journey to discover our authentic self, buried among the ruins of failure, dead ends, and despair. It is part of losing ourselves and experiencing despair through our circumstances. I know, because I’ve been there and I know how uncomfortable it is to be a stranger in your own life. However, in the months that followed, I experienced an expansion of consciousness that led to breakthroughs in my life. I experienced new insights into my life during those desperate moments. Sometimes pain and suffering will force us to evolve, so that life takes us where it needs to be.
We must not resist these moments, but support ourselves in our problems with total conviction. Only we determine our sense of self. It may require going in one direction and hitting rock bottom, for us to discover our true potential in those darkest moments. So whether you are experiencing hardships and challenges or guiding loved ones through their troubles, be aware of where they are leading you. Don’t get caught up in suffering because it is temporary and will eventually regress, as long as you continue in genuine faith. If we believe that the opinions of others determine who we are, we are less likely to live an authentic life. Ultimately, the greatest tragedy is following in the footsteps of someone whose opinion of us matters little.