I can honestly say that I am afraid of people. My fear of what other people think has sometimes stopped me from speaking my truth, living my truth and being authentically me.

And at this point in my life, I am sick and tired of worrying about what other people think. My fearful obsession of other people has created a reality for me that isn’t even mines. I am literally living in someone else’s box. I can’t step beyond the borders because I‘m afraid of being judged, criticized and shamed for making a mistake.

 Now what kind of life is that-

It isn’t much of a life.

So, how do I get over this fear? How do I stop shrinking in the presence of others?

Will Smith once said in an interview, there is a redemptive power in making a choice… Just decide what it’s going to be, who you’re to be and how you’re going to do it and the Universe will move out your way.

Mahatma Ghandi so eloquently said, “Your beliefs become your thoughts. Your thoughts become your words. Your words become your actions.”

I realized I must make a conscious choice to believe something different. Other people’s opinion of me does not have to become my reality (-Les Brown). 

And when I really think about the fear I experience, I realize it isn’t real. It is a story I am telling myself based on what I think people are going to say. I talk myself out of doing what I know I should do, because of these false narratives.

Intellectually I know fear is just False Evidence Appearing Real. I mean I’ve heard the acronym more times than I can count.

It’s funny how you know the right thing to do but you don’t always apply what you know. Sometimes you just get caught up in the bullshit of life and must find your way back. I just need to find my way back; this fear is just a temporary thing.