How would your life be if you stopped letting others' remarks and views ruin it? Too reliant on others' opinions?
Self-esteem is not dependent on others' acceptance. Imagine sitting at a table with 10 people and catering to their interests and needs in every conversation to be accepted and loved.
Really, who are you?
Where's your authentic self?
You are now a shadow of everyone else. Stop. Stand up for yourself.
When you accept yourself, you must always be yourself. You'll be accepted and don't have to be like "everyone else" to be liked.
It's normal for others to reject us. Consider Jesus, Gandhi, MLK, and JFK. Despite their popularity and noble efforts, many rejected them.
Furthermore, the idea that we must first develop to be accepted and deserve what we want is erroneous.
We are worthy of acceptance for who we are, what we have, what we do, and what we want at any time.
This does not mean we are not good enough if we think we can grow by learning new talents. Simply put, we choose to suit society's false norms.
Unpolished diamonds are still diamonds.
Read a Persian story about why emotional independence from others is vital.
An old wise man's kid was self-conscious about his appearance and wouldn't leave the house. He feared ridicule. His father told him to never listen to people and would prove it.
He told her, "You'll go to the market with me tomorrow!"
The old wise guy on the donkey and his son walked out of the house early in the morning.
Merchants murmured when they arrived in the square:
Check out this guy. He is merciless! He sits on the donkey and leaves his son walking.
The wise guy told his son:
Did you hear correctly? Come to the market with me tomorrow!
The second day, the wise man and his son reversed roles: the child rode the donkey and the old man walked alongside him. Same merchants at the square entrance:
Look at this uneducated child, they murmured. He's calm on the donkey while his miserable father drags himself through the dust. If such a spectacle isn't unfortunate!
Did you hear correctly? The father told his kid. Come to the market with me tomorrow!
On the third day, they walked with the donkey roped behind them.
- Look at these two idiots, traders said. They walk as if they don't know donkeys are for riding.
Did you hear correctly? The wise guy said. Come to the market with me tomorrow!
They rode the donkey out of the house on the fourth day. Merchants vented their anger at the square's entrance:
What a shame! Look at these two! They don't feel sorry for this animal.
They brought the donkey to the market on the fifth day.
But the merchants laughed:
These two crazy people carry their donkey instead of riding it!
So the wise man concludes:
You heard right, son, people will criticise everything you do. So don't bother about their opinion—do what you want and go on.
Too frequently, people' opinions bind us. Life is finding your way. Who will be yourself without you? Isn't it worth risking criticism to establish yourself?