The advice “Don’t care about what others think” can be incredibly liberating, if taken with nuance.
However, taken at face value, this statement can be problematic.
The desire to be liked is natural and healthy. To be a good friend, child, parent, partner, or simply a contributing member of society, we NEED to care about what others think.
Yet, it’s equally important to care about what WE think, and find a balance. And it’s impossible to strike that balance if we try to care about what EVERYONE thinks.
So, it’s not about ignoring everyone, but distinguishing between OTHERS vs. EVERYONE. The key lies in being liked by the right people for the right reasons. Care deeply about the opinions of those key individuals, and disregard the rest.
