You’re afraid of being judged and that what you say won’t be good enough, or that it will be too much. You worry that people won’t understand you, and that they’ll think less of you for it.
But here’s the thing: if you’re too scared to tell your story, no one else will get to hear it either. And then what good does it do anyone?
When we’re afraid of being judged, we tend to assume the worst in others. We assume that people will think less of us for our flaws and mistakes, so we keep them hidden away from prying eyes. But here’s the thing: if you share your story with someone else who has been through similar things—if you can relate on some level—then guess what? They might actually understand! It might even help them see their own situation in a new light.
So don’t be intimidated by someone else’s judgment—be curious instead. Ask questions and learn more about other people’s experiences. Let yourself be surprised by how much there is in common between us all.
If you’re afraid of being judged, that’s not the only thing you should be afraid of.
You should be afraid of what you’ll miss out on by being afraid.
If you’re not making an effort to get to know people, how well will you ever really know yourself? And if you don’t know yourself, how can you ever truly appreciate others?
If you’re not making an effort to learn about other cultures and perspectives, how will you ever understand your own? And if you don’t understand your own culture, how can you ever truly appreciate the diversity that makes us all so special and unique?
If you close yourself off from the world, who will be there when it feels like too much? Who will help pick up the pieces when everything feels like it’s falling apart? Will you be there to guide them through their first heartbreak or make them laugh when they feel like crying? Who will comfort them when they’re feeling alone—or celebrate with them when they find true love?
You have so much to offer this world—but only if you let yourself open up enough to let it in.
There’s a lot of pressure to be perfect in today’s world. We’re all expected to be confident, intelligent, and good-looking—and we have to do it all while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
But here’s the thing: you’re going to make mistakes. You’re going to feel insecure, or unsure of yourself. You might even make decisions that are totally wrong and regret them later. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that!
The key is learning from your mistakes instead of beating yourself up about them. If something doesn’t work out as planned, try something new! Learn from what happened and move forward with confidence.
If you want to feel more confident in yourself and your abilities, start by being curious about how things work around you—not just what you think they should be like. Take time every day to ask questions about things that interest you: how does this computer function? Why do people do what they do? What if…?
You’ll never know if there isn’t any room for improvement unless you ask questions first!
If you’re like most people, the answer is probably yes. We live in a world where there are a lot of opinions out there, and it can be hard to avoid the negative ones. But if you can get past that fear, the rewards can be great.
Here’s why: when we let ourselves be curious about other people’s opinions about us instead of being defensive and judgmental, we get to see them for what they really are: just one person’s opinion. And guess what? Your opinion of yourself is just as valid as theirs. So instead of obsessing over someone else’s opinion, why not just focus on yours?
What do YOU think?
After all, most people feel the same way as you do but you’ll never know, unless you’re brave enough to be curious.
I’m Puja McClymont – certified coach, wisdom teacher, speaker and host of the SELF Care 101 podcast.
I help professionals who are seeking direction and contentment in their lives by taking their work, health and relationships to a new level of success, so that life becomes more impactful, meaningful and fulfilling.
Through wisdom traditions and modern personal-development techniques, I teach you how to understand your Self better to achieve your goals.
Discover tips and insights through my YouTube channel, podcast, blog and email edit.