Stop Listening to the Voices That Don’t Matter

This week, I was walking in the park when I was passed by someone skipping. To answer your question, no they were not a child. This person had purple hair, appeared to maybe be in their late twenties, and had some headphones in as they merrily went on their way. A little while later, they started dancing a bit. At one point, I kid you not, they stopped to do a cartwheel.

While I have no desire to attempt a cartwheel or even dance in public, I couldn't help but admire this person. How much energy do I waste every day worrying what other people think? As adults, we reserve that kind of care-free approach to life for children. If this person had been 8, I would have smiled and thought nothing of it. Yet for some reason there is some age when this behavior becomes weird. We cross a threshold when running as fast as we can is only appropriate if we're on a race track or fleeing from harm. Why is that? Why can't we just run to feel the wind on our face? When we get older, if we want to continue doing something that we think we've outgrown or are embarrassed by, we classify it as a guilty pleasure.  Again - why is that? Why should we feel guilty?

I recently began watching through Brene Brown's Netflix Special, The Call To Courage, and there was a moment that stood out to me. She called out people who say things like I don't care what anyone thinks or You do you, don't listen to anyone. That sentiment, she says, is ridiculous. And I agree. Of course we care what people think. But should we care what the stranger in the park thinks? Probably not. Should we care about what people on social media think who don't know us at all? Definitely not.

Think about the voices you have been listening to lately. Are there people in your life whose opinions are bringing you down? Are there eyes that are keeping you from skipping when you really want to? If that's happening, ask the question - have these people earned the right to affect what I do? Are they invested in your life enough that you should care what they think? If they aren't, then stop listening.