I Get So Caught Up in Others’ Opinions about me That I Forget My Own

Sometimes, I get so caught up thinking about what others think of me that I forget the most important thing — what I think about me.

Funny, right? Well… not always.

I keep doing things while worrying,

“Are they judging me?”

“Do they like me?”

“Did I mess up?”

And in the middle of all this noise, I forget why I even started doing that thing in the first place.

When people act weird or think badly about me, it hurts. Especially when I know my heart was in the right place.

I start doubting myself.

I panic.

And then, like a clumsy magician trying to fix a trick gone wrong, I rush to explain myself, trying to make everyone happy.

The more I talk, the messier it gets.

Deep down, I know I want everyone to see this perfect version of me — someone who’s always happy, always kind, always good.

But guess what?

I can’t control what people think.

(If only there was a magic remote for that.)

In the end, all this worrying just leaves me feeling tired, hurt, and… a little lost.

But recently, a friend gave me a simple piece of advice.

He said, “If you feel like talking, talk. Don’t overthink it. If it makes you happy, that’s enough.”

At first, I thought, “Sounds easy. Too easy.”

But honestly? It’s not about changing overnight.

It’s about small steps.

So I’m trying.

I’m trying to live a little more for me, and a little less for the imaginary judges sitting in my head.

Maybe I’ll stumble. Maybe I’ll overthink again.

But maybe — just maybe — I’ll also find a little more peace.

And maybe, that’s enough.