Stop worrying about ‘log kya kahenge’! 8 ways to free your mind from what people say

Do you find yourself fighting thoughts about what people will say instead of thinking about what you really want to do? Don’t worry! It’s easy to get stuck in the cobweb of other’s opinions, but you’ve got to know how to stop worrying about others, and free your mind from any hiccups!

“Thinking about other’s opinions comes rather naturally to most people. Developing an independent and individualized thought process is not always easy and not something which is necessarily fostered in the person’s growing up years,” clinical psychologist Dr Kamna Chibber tells Health Shots.

If you continue to manouvre your life as per what people may deem right rather than focusing on your dreams and desires, one day you will end up feeling stifled. Feeling social anxiety is not worth it!

We’ve got one life, ladies, let’s live it! After all, ‘Kuchh toh log kahenge…’, and we might as well do things our way.

Tips to stop worrying about what others say

There are ways that people can work on towards building greater conviction and belief in their own unique ways of thinking. Dr Chibber suggests the following ways to deal with people’s negative comments.

1. Think of what matters to you

Keep working towards maintaining your focus on what matters to you. Recognize that people will always have different priorities and that does not heighten or reduce the importance or relevance of your own independent thought process.

2. You can’t control what others think

You can’t prevent people from thinking what they would want to, but you can certainly steer your attention towards what you need to do. Being able to redirect your attention towards your tasks and activities is a helpful of disengaging from thinking about what others might think.

3. Your actions are your choice

Build the perspective that what matters is not how people are thinking about you on account of the actions you take or the way you think. Rather what matters is the way in which your actions might impact people. Focusing on this would enable you to steer away from being worried about how others are perceiving you.

4. Your lens is the best lens

You have the best lens to view and know your intent and rationale. No one else can truly grasp where or why your thinking is the way it is. Determine for yourself what works best and work towards improving it such that it helps you reach your goals.

5. Be self-aware

Ground yourself in the understanding you have about what you are doing and why you are doing it. Greater self-awareness and understanding can facilitate the process of being able to step away from the worry and concern about others’ perceptions.

6. Not everything can be perfect

Don’t strive for perfection. Aim to keep doing better and working towards achieving your potential. Remember you will still make mistakes and that it is okay to go through that process as it is a learning curve that is present with us throughout life.

7. Acknowledge your achievements

Give yourself positive reinforcement by acknowledging and internally praising what you have achieved. Look for the good that emanates from what you do and how you do it. Stay aligned to your overall value system so you do not experience any dissonance internally.

8. Your perception may not always be right

Lastly, remember that whatever you may perceive may not be the accurate reality of the situation. Mind reading as to what another may feel towards you and the ways in which you think is usually inaccurate. So keep maintaining your belief in what you do and why you are doing it, rather than paying heed to people’s opinions.

Practicing these will help you to stop worrying about others and focus on yourself!