what the world thinks

We have created for ourselves a culture that is heavily influenced by what other people think. Despite the restriction that the notion imposes, most of our actions are still driven by the polarity of approval and rejection that we solicit from the world. But if you think about it, what other people think about us is really none of our business.

I remember one instance when I was informed that a person told a few people that there was nothing remotely likeable about me. Did I let it affect me? Of course. I won't be hypocritical and say that it didn't. It did in ways that you can't imagine. It was hurtful, but I knew better. I could've gone out of my way to let them know who I really am. Perhaps, even get them to like me. But that's a zero-sum game. Winning them over by approval would probably keep me captive with the threat of the same being revoked.

People judge. It's something inevitable. Nevertheless, their judgement, more often than not, is fleeting. And in the above case, it is insubstantial and very unreliable. I have learned not to make a big fuss if they, or any other people for that matter, can't find anything redeeming about me. It may come off as being defensive, but really, it's not my loss.

What that person said had very little to do with me. Those people, they don't know me well enough, and they don't know what I'm capable of. Hence, their opinions don't matter and my ego is secure enough to claim that. This isn't bravado. This is about knowing whose opinions really matter because at the end of the day, you have nothing to prove to anyone but yourself.